YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Officials at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton are planning for a surge in COVID-19 patients around the Fourth of July.

Avera Sacred Heart President Doug Ekeren says they are working with several infection rate models.

Ekeren says they see the peak infection rate moving further out.

Ekeren says they could max out on hospital beds needed if that happens.

Ekeren says if they hit those peak numbers that would indicate they would have 34 people needing intensive care and about 19 of those on ventilators.