By Jerry Bellune
JerryBellune@yahoo.com
The upstate covid-19 surge has taken its toll.
Greenville and Spartanburg hospitals have run into staffing and availabe bed problems.
Those 2 counties, plus York and Horry, have reported the highest case rates in the state.
Greenville had more than 3,000 new cases last week and Spartanburg was not far behind.
Despite higher cases rates in Lexington County, Lexington Medical Center reports it has available beds, supplies and staff.

According to the Department of Health and Environmental Control;\

- 12% of LMC's available beds are occipied by covid patients.

- 89% are occupied by all patients.

- That means 11% of beds are still availabe.

"We continue to carefully monitor the incidence of covid," said LMC's Jennifer Wilson.
"While we have seen the number of patients with covid increase over the past couple of weeks, we have efficiently managed the higher volume."
She said that even with an increase in cases, the hospital is fully prepared. 
The new patient care tower can turn any room into a negative pressure room with the flip of a switch. That technology can create additional space for clinicians to take care of covid patients as needed.
"This flexibility allows our hospital to meet the changing needs during this pandemic."