Combined Sources
(undated) — The recent rise in new COVID 19 cases are beginning to cause a strain on area hospitals. Officials at both Baystate Health Systems and Cooley Dickinson Hospital say the highly infectious Delta variant has turned what began as a quiet summer into a very busy one, which has put a strain on hospital emergency departments and has resulted in some staffing issues. Baystate Health Systems CEO Mark Keroack says the system went from four COVID-19 cases in early July to more than 100 cases just last week.