Fort Lauderdale Hospital Shuts Down Maternity Unit As COVID-19 Surge Impacts Staffing

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A South Florida hospital has temporarily shut down its maternity ward because of COVID-19-related staffing shortages, as the virus continues to spread throughout the state.

Due to Florida’s current coronavirus surge, Holy Cross Health, a full-service Catholic hospital in Fort Lauderdale, “has reached critical staffing levels in Labor and Delivery,” according to its website.

The hospital, which is a member of Trinity Health, has shut down its labor and delivery unit “until further notice,” though its neonatal intensive care and post-partum units remain open.

Starting Thursday, the hospital also stopped all visitations, though exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for maternity units and patients receiving end of life care.

COVID-19 cases have jumped across the state in recent weeks. More than 142,000 new cases of the virus were reported statewide over New Year's weekend and hospitalizations have doubled in the past week.

The weekly COVID-19 report from the Florida Department of Health showing 298,455 new cases, a new case positivity rate of 26.5 percent and 32 deaths reported in Florida from Dec. 24-30.

South Florida counties have been the hardest hit by this current surge.

Broward County, where Holy Cross Health is located, added 48,018 new cases during this period and saw a 31.7 new case positivity rate.

There were also 98,437 new cases and a 27.3 percent new case positivity rate reported nearby in Miami-Dade County. And Palm Beach County saw 24,488 new cases and a 30.6 percent new case positivity rate.

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