CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Gov. Justice announced that a recent increase in COVID-19 rates in Harrison, Marion, and Monongalia counties has filled WVU Hospital and United Hospital Center in Clarksburg to capacity.
As a result, the Governor said that bed capacity will be increased at Fairmont Medical Center, enabling the hospital to care for up to 42 patients and provide the necessary services to meet the needs of COVD patients and others.
“Many individuals are delaying care because there are no beds available,” Gov. Justice said. “So we need to move.”
The capacity increase will also result in the addition of 65 staffed positions to care for these patients.
“We need this facility, and just think about where we were about a year ago,” Gov. Justice said. “This hospital was dying. But, with the help of WVU and our legislators and other local leaders, we refused to let it die. If we would have sat on our hands any longer, it would have been mothballed. Instead, we saved a hospital that is so vital to the people of North Central West Virginia, we saved a bunch of jobs, and now that we need this hospital for COVID overflow, it’s there for us.”
