Staff at UnityPoint Health are pleading with the public to wear masks and use social distancing as they say their hospitals are nearing capacity.
In the QC region, the exponential spike in coronavirus cases has meant more than 300 positive tests every day.
10% of those people end up in the hospital. UnityPoint Health now says over half their ICU is filled with COVID-19 patients and every day is a battle to find an open bed. It's an issue they say every hospital in the area is experiencing including Iowa City, Peoria, and Cedar Rapids.
UnityPoint Health says many of their staff are getting sick, causing a further strain on resources. They say their staff is actually exposed somewhere out in the community instead of at work and they're asking everyone to wear a mask and keep your distance.