COVID cases flood hospitals in America's heartland

Dr. Drew Miller treats a patient with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Manuel Flores has his vitals taken as healthcare personnel treat patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Jade Carabajal-Richter worries about a lack of beds for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as case numbers surge at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Healthcare personnel treat Daniel Benewiat, a patient who is on a ventilator, inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Teresa Nguyen, a respiratory therapist, goes over a patient’s charts inside a room for people with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

A healthcare worker adjusts an oxygen tank for a patient with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Melisa Hazell poses for a portrait as healthcare personnel work inside a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ward at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Jacqui Wood is screened for symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Connie Engelland sits inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Healthcare personnel treat Daniel Benewiat, a patient who is on a ventilator, inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Teresa Nguyen, a respiratory therapist, treats a patient inside a room for people with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Leopoldo Araiza speaks with a doctor as healthcare personnel treat patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Tammy Benewiat peers through a window at her husband, who is on a ventilator inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Healthcare workers prepare to take a chest X-ray of COVID-19 patient Troy Burrows as healthcare personnel treat people with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Teresa Ngyuen, a respiratory therapist, treats Lynn Stansel, a patient with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Connie Engelland sits inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Daniel Benewiat, a patient with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is treated using a ventilator as his wife, Tammy, looks at him through a window at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

A healthcare worker wearing protective equipment takes a breather as healthcare personnel treat patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

Healthcare personnel work with a patient inside a room for people with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Healthcare personnel prepare to rotate a patient who is on a ventilator inside a room for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S., November 20, 2020.

Kevin Hoover pretends to blow out a candle on his birthday as healthcare personnel treat patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.

A healthcare worker takes Reina Perez’s temperature before testing her for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, U.S., November 19, 2020.