The federal government is sending a team to provide medical support at Atrium Health Pineville as the hospital struggles to deal with the Charlotte region’s surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sending a team of 16 medical providers and support staff from the National Disaster Medical System to the Atrium Health hospital for up to 14 days.

The team will begin covering shifts in the emergency department at the Pineville hospital starting Thursday, according to Atrium.

NC Gov. Roy Cooper called for federal aid in Charlotte-area hospitals in late January, citing record numbers of patients hospitalized with COVID.

Earlier in January, FEMA provided 25 ambulances for North Carolina, which were deployed to 11 counties. Following Cooper’s request for additional aid, FEMA extended the deployment of those ambulances, along with 50 paramedics.

Hospitalizations have surged in North Carolina over the past month, hitting new record highs for statewide hospitalizations multiple times in January. On Jan. 26, the state hit a new high for hospitalizations during the pandemic, with 5,201 people hospitalized with COVID across NC.

COVID infections have slowed and started to decline in recent weeks. Hospitalizations are often called a lagging indicator, meaning it could take days or weeks before a trend in infections is reflected in hospitalizations.

Even as the current surge in omicron cases declines, hospitalizations remain high, though statewide data shows a slight decline in hospitalizations over the past week.

According to the Atrium Health website, estimated wait times at the 307-bed Pineville hospital could be more than two hours as of Tuesday morning.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of our state and federal governments, specifically Governor Cooper, the NCDHHS and HHS, to share this team of medical professionals for our Atrium Health Pineville emergency department,” Atrium Health chief medical officer Dr. James Hunter said in a statement to the Observer. “Our dedicated health care heroes at Atrium Health have worked very hard throughout the pandemic and, like many others across the country, are feeling the effects of this latest surge. Knowing their work is being recognized and supplemented by this team to lend a hand is very meaningful for them.”

National Disaster Medical System teams are also providing medical surge support in Arizona and Rhode Island, according to HHS.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to strain our country’s health care system and medical personnel,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell said in a statement. “These NDMS teams serve as a lifeline to hospitals by providing temporary relief to staff, adding bed capacity, decreasing wait times, and improving outcomes for COVID-19 patients.”