Rural hospitals strained by virus

DAVENPORT — Rural medical centers like Lincoln Hospital and its clinics are struggling to survive during the coronavirus shutdown.

A shortage of patients has prompted Lincoln Hospital officials to ask employees to take volun- tary standby unemployment.

“We are doing everything in our power to avoid mandatory furloughs,” CEO Tyson Lacy said.

The misconceptions of hospitals being overran by patients sick with COVID-19 are scaring would-be patients from visiting for other issues. As a result, rural hospitals are mostly empty.

That’s putting a strain on the hospital, officials said. That can also...