Wheeling Hospital sets up a tent for non-covid patients. Isn’t this an important story by itself?
Why is it buried on page 6 in the middle of their daily covid report?
The local Wheeling papers usually run daily updates on the local/regional covid situation. Buried in today’s article are these two paragraphs:
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 surge in the Northern Panhandle has forced Wheeling Hospital to install a semi-permanent tent outside the hospital’s emergency-trauma department.
“The tent, which will open Wednesday, will hold 15 non-COVID ER overflow patients,” Wheeling Hospital CEO Douglass Harrison said. “It has flooring installed, is heated, has hot and cold running water, computer hookups and phone lines. The patients will be comfortable and receive treatment in a much more timely manner.”
A tent? You mean like this?
Huntington Hospital activated surge tents this week in response to the flood of patients hospitalized with #COVID19. Tents are being used to treat patients who visit the ER but do not have life-threatening conditions. Don't let this be your home for the holidays. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/B0FcQKS1PD
— City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) December 24, 2020
Has the local coronavirus outbreak reached that critical of a level? (I’m sure local readers can add their own questions.) Why isn’t this a separate story with pictures? Likely answer: because that would require a reporter who asks questions rather than an editor who compiles statistics and press releases into a daily story.
Update
Local Wheeling station, WTRF, is now covering the story. Also add WTOV here.
