Vidant officials say that the surge capacity plan includes creating additional bed capacity.

The hospital system continues to ask the community to help aid in slowing the spread of the virus.

“Our team members are not immune to community spread and we need them to be healthy in order to care for the community. We continue to ask everyone to do their part to help stop the spread: avoid gatherings, wash hands often and wear a mask,” Vidant Health said in a statement.

The hospital system said it is currently treating 218 COVID-19 patients.

On Monday, Vidant said its virus testing site processed 1,300 collections, the most to date.

The system says that positivity rates remain high and are currently about 20%.

Vidant Health statement on surge capacity:

“Vidant Health continues to see a high census of COVID-19 patients across the system, including at ECU Health Medical Center. In response to increased community spread, ECU Health Medical Center limited the hours of visitation and has begun to enact its surge capacity plans to ensure we can continue to provide care for those we serve, including creating additional bed capacity. We have taken these measures to ensure we are able to continue providing care to those we serve. Importantly, although COVID is a factor affecting capacity, other non-COVID related care is also driving higher numbers of patients at the hospital. Our care teams are dedicated to providing care to those we serve, but they need the community’s help. Our team members are not immune to community spread and we need them to be healthy in order to care for the community. We continue to ask everyone to do their part to help stop the spread: avoid gatherings, wash hands often and wear a mask.”