Mayo Clinic prepares for more patients

A surge is expected as the number of cases keeps rising

Over 3?

Percent./// kimt news 3 is also tracking the number of hospitalization s in each state.

According to the minnesota department of health?

There have been 242 people hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state.

120 of those are still hospitalized today... and 64 are in the ??u.

With those numbers expected to peak in minnesota this week?

Kimt news 3's raquel hellman is finding out how area hospitals are preparing to handle a likely surge in patients.

She joins us live from mayo clinic in downtown rochester.

Raquel?

George?

I was actually tested for covi?19 a week ago.

Fortunately my test came back negative?

But of course?

That means i could still get the virus.

So if i was to come here to mayo clinic to be treated?

I want to know what i can expect when it comes to getting care.

As the number of cases in olmsted county surpasses the 100 mark?

Medical staff at mayo clinic are preparing for a surge in patients in the coming weeks?

A minnesota hasn't reached the acceleration point or peak.

So i asked infectious disease expert doctor pritish tosh how they're making sure they're ready.

He tells me their strategy is to*maximize their conventional care.xxx how do we keep doing what we do on a normal basis,but maximizing that and optimizing that so we can take care of as many patients as possible.

And then we move into contingency plans so that if those conventional approaches are not sufficient, what else can we do while still meeting the normal standard of care he tells me here at mayo clinic?

They've been preparing for a pandemic like this for years?

And that it comes down to maximizing staff?

Space?

And supplies.

One way they're doing that is by moving resources from low priority areas?

Like elective procedures?

And moving them to high priority areas that are dealing directly with covi?19 cases?

Like the emergency room.

Live in rochester?

Raquel hellman?

Kimt news three./// thanks raquel.

As we first told you last week?

Mayo clinic has been designated as the leading institution in the country for a program that would collect blood plasma from people who have recovered from covi?19 and using it to treat others who have the illness./// food assistance remains