Abilene Reaches Emergency Levels As Covid-19 Infections Surge

ABILENE – Covid-19 infections continue to surge in Abilene as Hendrick Medical Center sets the community safety dial to the highest level as they face a shortage of staff.

The dial, implemented at the start of the pandemic, is intended to show the health situation in the area.

With seven different levels, the dial ranges from "New Normal" to "Emergency":

1. New Normal 
2. Level 1: Cautious
3. Level 2: Concern
4. Level 3: High Risk
5. Level 4: Severe
6. Level 5: Critical
7. Level 6: Emergency

On Tuesday, Hendrick Medical Center put Abilene on Level 6 on the Community Safety Level dial. 

"We’ve had patients in our emergency departments waiting to go to in-person beds and just like with businesses around town that are feeling the crunch of employee shortages we are feeling it as well." Chief Nursing Officer Susan Greenwood. 

According to the hospital, the City of Abilene currently has 111 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 while Brownwood is reporting 20. Hospital data shows of the 131 hospitalized patients, 101 have not been vaccinated. 

Additionally, there are 27 patients in the ICU - with more than 81 percent of them not vaccinated.

One of the biggest issues the hospital is facing is having qualified staff working to help residents fighting the virus.

"To any nurses that have chosen to choose another career, maybe staying at home to take care of their children or decided not to be in the profession of nurses ... we would love to have your help specifically during the time," said Greenwood. "Even if you're not trained to take care of a full team of patients, we can use your skills in other ways just helping the nurses that are there extend their care to our patients."