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LexMed closes surgery center, shifts resources to care for COVID-patients

Some of the nurses from the Irmo surgery center have been reassigned to care for patients in the hospital's intensive care unit.

LEXINGTON, S.C. — Lexington Medical Center has temporarily closed an outpatient surgery center as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

Officials with Lexington Medical Center say they have temporarily closed its outpatient surgery center in Irmo. Some of the nurses from the Irmo surgery center have been reassigned to care for patients in the hospital's intensive care unit. 

RELATED: Surgeries rescheduled as two SC hospitals over capacity

Patients who had been scheduled for surgeries in Irmo will have their procedures performed at the outpatient surgery center in Lexington, located at 811 West Main Street in Lexington, according to hospital officials. 

Lexington Medical Center continues to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital, officials say.  

South Carolina exceeded 5,000 daily COVID cases in the latest data released on Friday, the first time the state has seen a number that high since the worst depths of the pandemic in mid-January.

RELATED: South Carolina exceeds 5,000 new daily COVID cases, highest total since mid-January

The state's health agency, DHEC, released their latest numbers Friday, which reflects data collected on Wednesday, August 18. It shows there were 5,238 new total cases--the highest total since January 15. DHEC also reported 31 new deaths. 

Lexington County led the Midlands with 415 new cases, and Richland County right behind at 371. You can see the full county-by-county list of case numbers here

The troubling numbers show what doctors have been warning for some time, namely that the Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to accelerate in the state. 

RELATED: More children being hospitalized for COVID-19, SC doctors warn

RELATED: South Carolina mom fighting to live after giving birth while sick with COVID-19

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