Brevard County hospitals change policies due to influx of COVID-19 patients

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A COVID-19 surge is prompting Brevard County’s largest hospital system to make some changes.

With few exceptions like childbirth, patients at the end of life, and patients unable to provide or receive medical information, Health First is implementing a no-visitation policy.

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The hospital said 50% of its capacity are COVID-19 patients.

Health First has 320 COVID-19 patients over four hospitals, and tents have been set up to keep non-COVID-19 patients out of the emergency department.

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Parrish Medical Center has erected its overflow tent, too. It has 71 COVID-19 patients, and nearly 50 patient rooms have been converted to function as negative pressure rooms.

Rocklege and Melbourne Regional Medical Centers said their current clinical staffing, PPE, ventilators, and medication supplies are sufficient to treat all patients, including those hospitalized for COVID.  At Health First, many staff are also taking on new roles.

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