University of Utah Health delays non-emergency surgeries due to COVID-19

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KDXU) - University of Utah Health is delaying non-emergency surgeries due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

The hospital announced Tuesday that at least 300 staff members have gotten sick or are isolating due to the coronavirus.

The hospital plans to reduce the number of available beds by about 10% due to staffing issues.

"Those operations that have to be done within 12-24 hours and in some case, true emergencies, we need to be able to preserve our ability to do that and care for those patients," says Chief of Surgery, Dr. Robert Glasgow.

The hospital says anyone with a question about scheduled surgeries should call their doctor.