The maternity ward at a serious Florida hospital has been compelled to close down as a consequence of a vital staffing scarcity.

Fort Lauderdale's Holy Cross Well being closed its maternity ward on Monday. In an announcement, the hospital attributes the closure to a rise in COVID-19 infections amongst its maternity employees members.

"As a result of COVID-19 surge, Holy Cross Well being has reached vital staffing ranges in Labor and Supply. In one of the best curiosity of affected person security, the Labor and Supply unit is on diversion till additional discover," wrote Holy Cross spokeswoman Christine Walker in an announcement. The closure can be momentary, though an anticipated reopening date has not been decided.

Though the maternity ward is closed, different vital models concerning delivery will stay open in the meanwhile. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and postpartum models proceed to function because the staffing in these departments is on edge however manageable.

Within the meantime, different close by hospitals are serving to ship infants in moms' instances of want. Holy Cross Well being is working with different hospital methods, together with Memorial Healthcare System and Broward Well being, to relocate anticipating moms who're both in labor or are anticipating it within the coming days.

"I used to be notified by Holy Cross medical management [of the staffing shortage and maternity ward closure]," stated Broward Well being Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joshua Lenchus to NBC 6. "Over the past a number of days, our CEOs have been in touch with one another and we're prepared, prepared and capable of help them with no matter their sufferers want."

"We have been receiving a couple of of their sufferers and dealing carefully with them to make sure that they get secure high-quality care. We're ready to obtain them," Memorial Healthcare System Government Vice President Leah Carpenter instructed the information station. "They are going to get the very best of care and we'll ensure that they and their infants are discharged as rapidly as we are able to and go residence and begin their new households. However we're very snug managing our COVID inhabitants and ensuring that our mommies are stored secure in addition to the infants."

Holy Cross Emergency
Holy Cross Well being in Florida has been compelled to briefly shut its maternity ward as a consequence of COVID-related staffing shortages. Above, an exterior view of the Holy Cross Well being emergency entrance is seen on July 29, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photograph by Johnny Louis/Getty Photographs

The announcement from Holy Cross comes as Florida continues to shatter every day information for brand new COVID circumstances, that are most probably fueled by the Omicron variant. The variant is now the dominant pressure throughout america.

Since final week, there have been lengthy traces at testing websites throughout South Florida and in different areas of the state.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

Holy Cross Hospital
Brief-staffed Holy Cross Well being in Florida is working with close by amenities as a way to switch anticipating sufferers amid the momentary closure of its maternity ward. Above, an exterior view of Holy Cross Well being is seen on July 29, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photograph by Johnny Louis/Getty Photographs