Hospital admissions of coronavirus patients continue to soar in Florida with at least two areas in the state surpassing previous peaks reached during last summer’s surge.
Some local officials around the state are calling on Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to declare an emergency, though the governor has resisted new pandemic restrictions.
Related: Greater Jacksonville Leads Florida, Nation In COVID Resurgence
Baptist Health Jacksonville said Thursday its emergency rooms are extremely busy because of COVID-19, which means wait times are longer than normal. Baptist is prioritizing patients with life threatening conditions such as heart attack and stroke victims.
In Brevard County, two hospitals began setting up treatment tents at their emergency departments, according to the Associated Press.
Florida hospitals reported nearly 9,000 patients with COVID-19 on Thursday.
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