Alberta Health Services says some rural emergency departments are suffering due to a lack of healthy staff.

Last night, Rocky Mountain House Health Centre was temporarily without physician coverage from 6 PM on Wednesday, May 12 to 7 AM on Thursday, May 13th.

“This is a temporary situation, due to COVID-19 impacting the availability of physicians across the zone who are able to provide locum coverage. Central Alberta has a number of physicians who are impacted by COVID-19 or in isolation due to being a close contact, limiting available resources,” said AHS in a statement.

EMS calls were re-routed to Sylvan lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Centre, Rimbey Hospital and care Centre, Sundre Hospital and Care Centre, and Red Deer Regional Hospital and Care Centre.

However, inpatient care was unaffected.

Today, Fairview Health Complex will go through a similar shortage and will be without physician coverage from Tuesday, May 11, at 7 PM, to Wednesday, May 12, at 7 AM. Elk Point Healthcare Centre emergency department will be without on-site physician coverage for 24 hours starting at 8 AM today.