A U.S Navy team of medical specialists is scheduled to arrive in the St. Louis region next week to help a hospital strained by an increase in COVID-19 cases, authorities announced Friday.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s office and the St. Louis Metropolitan Task Force said a team of 44 medical specialists, including doctors and nurses, will be arriving next week at Christian Hospital in northern St. Louis County.
“This aid serves as a beacon of hope for us as we continue to serve our community during this unprecedented time,” said Rick Stevens, president of Christian Hospital.
The metropolitan task force submitted requests last week to the State Emergency Management Agency for federal help for 11 St. Louis-area medical facilities in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it could deploy resources to only one of the hospitals, and Christian was chosen because it is in an underserved community, the task force said in a news release.
“It is hoped that by adding resources in North County other facilities will benefit as well,” said Laura High, spokeswoman for BJC HealthCare.
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