Riverside Health System is currently treating 14 confirmed patients with the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, at its five acute care hospitals as of Tuesday, according to Peter Glagola, Senior Director of Public Relations.

In addition to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester and Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, the other facilities are Riverside Tappahannock Hospital, Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock and Riverside Doctors’ Hospital in Williamsburg.

Glagola also said that RHS has the necessary personal protective equipment that its teams need at this time. Riverside is reassessing on a twice-daily basis to plan effectively as the situation evolves and gather resources.

“The amazing efforts of our supply chain team have us well positioned to take COVID-19 head-on,” said Glagola. “We feel that with this great advance work, paired with the ongoing support from the state and federal levels, we will be prepared if a surge hits our region.”

The peak of hospitalizations for Riverside is currently unknown. “There are different models out there that predict the peak of hospitalizations, etc.,” said Glagola. “Some are as early as later this month (UW), and some are forecasting months away (UVA). No matter when the surge comes, Riverside will be in a continual state of readiness to respond.”

Need for masks

Riverside is in need of 100 percent cotton masks for its residents in its nursing and assisted living facilities. Visit Riverside’s donation page which lists all the different opportunities for community support at www.riversideonline.com/covid_19/donations.cfm.