An agency whose stated mission is, in part, to "reduce death/disability related to trauma, acute illness," warns that hospitals are filling rapidly with COVID-19 patients.
“Nobody saw the prolonged situation we’re in coming," Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Council Executive Director Hillary Watt said.
Watt's organization, known as CBRAC, monitors hospitals on a daily basis, keeping tabs on their numbers of patients and which wards -- such as the intensive care unit -- they're in.
There are 44 hospitals under her auspices in South Texas, and she says the situation is becoming dire.
Wednesday, she updated the Corpus Christi City Council on the situation.
"Our hospitals are nearing capacity,” she said.
Watt said that hospitals in South Texas are well-prepared to handle a mass-casualty event, but the longevity of the pandemic poses a problem.
"But the hospitals -- although they’re at, or nearing capacity, here in the Corpus area -- they’re working feverishly to create beds,” she said.