- Title: Ambulances in short supply as COVID-19 patients overwhelm Memphis hospitals
- Date: 13th August 2021
- Summary: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 13, 2021) (REUTERS) EMERGENCY WORKERS ROLLING STRETCHER FROM BACK OF AMBULANCE TOWARD RESIDENCE AMBULANCE DEPARTING FROM HOSPITAL PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL WEARING MASKS SIGN READING (English): "AMBULANCE ENTRANCE" AMBULANCES PARKED IN HOSPITAL PARKING LOT AMBULANCE DRIVING DOWN STREET EMERGENCY WORKER GETTING INTO AMBULANCE TIGHT SHOT OF LIGHTS FLASHING IN BACK OF AMBULANCE AMBULANCE DRIVING AWAY FROM RESIDENCE
- Embargoed: 27th August 2021 23:55
- Keywords: COVID-19 Memphis ambulance emergency services
- Location: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES
- City: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQ4739J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Getting an ambulance quickly in case of emergency may not be easy as COVID-19 cases skyrocket, a Tennessee official has warned.
On Thursday (August 12,) Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat said that emergency services were overwhelmed and that long wait times should be expected.
She added that they were answering about 100 more calls a day than last year. August could possibly be their busiest month yet, according to local media.
Low vaccination rates and the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus have driven a surge of COVID-19 cases across the United States, overwhelming some state medical systems.
The number of daily COVID-19 cases across the country has doubled in the last two weeks, according to a Reuters tally, reaching a six-month peak, while the average number of daily deaths has increased 85% in the last 14 days.
(Production: Karen Pulfer Focht, Vanessa Johnston) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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