WATCH: Shannon's Chief Medical Officer Answers Tough COVID-19 Questions

SAN ANGELO, TX – Shannon Medical Center hosted a press conference on Tuesday with their Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris Barnett to discuss new updated facts of COVID-19. 

The video begins with the Dr. Barnett explaining the number of ventilators and available beds at Shannon for COVID-19 patients. Currently Shannon has 400 licensed beds, 19 ICU beds, 33 ventilators, and a number of other types of machines that could be used as a ventilator. 

San Angelo is located in Trauma Service Area K which includes Tom Green, Sutton and Crocket county. This area treats 179,457 people. As of June 8, the Department of State Health Services reports 168 available beds, 8 available ICU beds, and 27 available ventilators. 

Dr. Barnett went on to confirm that Shannon as of now has not taken in any COVID-19 patients from outside of the Concho Valley. "Our priority here at Shannon is to serve the patients of the Concho Valley," said Dr. Barnett. "Our capacity and our plan for taking care of COVID was pretty much designed around those counties and that population." 

More was discussed on different ways Shannon was treating patients such as the use of certain steroids and at the worst case a ventilator. 

"The point that I would like to make with the public is that we are going to be able to take care of the COVID patients that come into our facility," said Dr. Barnett. "We also need to take care of all the other patients that need to come in our facility. We don't want to be in a position where we can't help everyone who needs help COVID-19 patient or not. The best way we can do that is to wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and avoid large groups."