Salinas hospital staff issue plea for safety as they hit record number of COVID-19 patients

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) The Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System has surpassed a COVID-19 milestone, and staff have issued a plea for people to be safe as we approach Thanksgiving.

The Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital has a record 32 patients in its three COVID-19 units, according to Public Relations and System Communications Director Karina Rusk.

She says the hospital has enough beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment, but SVMHS said its main concern is the staff who have seen more people dying from the virus and a "needless number of people" infected.

To encourage people to be safe and limit family gatherings this Thanksgiving, two Respiratory Care Therapists working in the COVID-19 units shared their stories.