Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, Gloucester, has delayed most elective inpatient surgeries as of last week.

According to Dr. Mike Dacey, Riverside Health System President and Chief Operating Officer, this decision was made in order to free up capacity for the almost tripling of COVID cases that the hospital is now seeing compared to just before the holidays.

Dacey said that the health system is continuing to perform outpatient procedures in its ambulatory centers and all urgent and emergent inpatient cases. He also said that Riverside is adjusting on a daily basis in order to provide the optimal care for its patients.

He urged the community to remain vigilant in its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding large gatherings, following hand-washing guidelines and continuing to social distance and wear masks.

Vaccines

As of Tuesday, Riverside had distributed almost 9,000 vaccine doses. According to Dacey, recipien...