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Three COVID-19 hospital overflow sites prepare to open in Colorado

St Mary Corwin

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Governor Jared Polis says three alternative care sites could be needed soon in Colorado if COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations don’t take a turn.

“As a last resort, we have the option of mobilizing the alternative care sites,” Polis said. “I continue to hope, we all continue to hope, that we will not use those facilities.”

If needed, there are three alternative care sites designated in Colorado: the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, St. Anthony North Family Medicine in Westminster, and St. Mary-Corwin in Pueblo. Right now the state is monitoring hospital capacity daily.

Collectively, the sites can provide an additional 130 hospital beds upon first opening. In a month, the sites could expand to provide basic care to 2,300 COVID-19 patients.

“These are non-ICU facilities,” Polis said. “Oxygen can be administered at those facilities, the first line treatment for most COVID patients.”

Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar says the state would run the alternative care site at St. Mary-Corwin, rather than the hospital.

“One of the issues that everyone’s having now - is where are you going to get the staff to operate that hospital?” Said Gradisar.

Currently, there is not an alternative care site in Colorado Springs. UCHealth says, even if one is placed here in the future, there will be similar staffing concerns.

“The problem is, how do you staff it? And who do you staff it with?” said Dr. David Steinbruner, the chief medical officer at UCHealth Memorial.

Gov. Polis told Coloradans the future is up to them.

"There are still several steps before it becomes that dire," Polis said. "But looking at the trends across our county, including in Colorado, there is a higher likelihood that those [alternative care sites] will need to be activated. It's still something that's in our hands."

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Lauren Barnas

Lauren is an anchor and MMJ for KRDO and 13 Investigates. Learn more about Lauren here.

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