The virus was worse for people with underlying health issues, and, like most rural communities, Dayton had high rates of COPD, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. A facility in the Berkshires had lost much of its nursing staff to a 14-day quarantine. And throughout the hard-hit areas of Washington state, rural hospitals with only a handful of beds had begun making plans to set up tents or rent vacant buildings in case extra space was needed. Dayton General was considered one of the best-run rural hospitals in the state, with an innovative program for telemedicine and stellar ratings from its patients. She led her staff toward the two rooms of the hospital that had negative airflow to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

Source: Washington Post March 15, 2020 00:45 UTC