Our content is fact-checked or reviewed by medical and diet experts to reflect accuracy and ensure that our readers receive reasonable nutritional and dietary advice.

We follow structured guidelines to obtain information and link to other resources, including medical journals and scientific research.

If you have any questions about the accuracy or timeliness of our content, please contact our editor via email [email protection].

In recent weeks, headlines have been thinking about what the ongoing supply chain crisis caused by the COVID pandemic and other economic traumas such as the trade war and Brexit might mean for the supply of Christmas gifts. At the same time, medical professionals across the country stated that they are dealing with more pressing shortages that will affect their ability to provide life-saving medical care. These are some of the shortcomings that have led to serious conditions in the national health system. Keep reading to learn more and ensure the health of you and others, and don’t miss these certain signs that you have been infected with COVID.

Hospitals and healthcare providers across the country have reported shortages of nurses and other important healthcare personnel. On Thursday, the governor of Kentucky declared the state’s long-term care shortage an emergency, and the governor of Maryland introduced legislation to fill the staff gap in the local hospital. In Minnesota, the hospital has cancelled all procedures except life-saving procedures, saying that employee burnout in the ongoing pandemic has led to underemployment. Pharmacies are also struggling to solve the problem of staff shortages: The demand for COVID testing and vaccination has caused many pharmacies to reduce business hours or temporarily close because there are not enough trained professionals to dispense medicines and provide new services needed for the pandemic.

On Thursday, Kaiser Health News reported that due to the pandemic and supply chain shortages, hospitals are now "looking for basic medical supplies," including crutches, syringes, needles, tubes, gloves, catheters, surgical drapes, and even urine collection tools. The latter forces at least one health system to order individual parts to make its own parts, which complicates the workflow and leaves less time for patient care. "Our supply shortages now actually affect our ability to provide care," said George Morris, MD, CentraCare, Minnesota. "When you invest in all these changes-four different types of collection kits, countless different types of crutches-there is always a possibility of a little error. It's unfortunate, but this is reality."

Related: Not remembering this incident could be a sign of dementia

Babies’ parents report that many popular brands of infant formula are sold out in stores and online, shocking infants who are unable to breastfeed due to allergies or rely on certain formulas. A mother in Burlington, North Carolina said: “The pressure of COVID-19 is enough, and then you will not get what your child needs. This is a crisis.” The CDC recommends consulting your pediatrician. Find out if it is necessary to change formula milk powder.

Related: According to doctors, the number one cause of obesity

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the nursing home has lost 14% of its employees and approximately 221,000 jobs. “Those who have worked in this field for 30 or 40 years say they have never seen a workforce challenge as severe as they are today,” a nursing home representative told NBC 12 in Virginia this week.

Related: Health experts say it must be a sign of your lack of magnesium

As the supply chain crisis has caused a backlog of transportation, some hospitals have reported shortages of life-saving medical equipment such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and breathing tubes. "This is already 2021, but shipping companies cannot make accurate estimates every hour of when or where the goods will arrive," said Dai Tinglong, a professor specializing in healthcare at Johns Hopkins University. In order to survive this pandemic in the healthiest way, please don't miss these 35 places most likely to be infected with COVID.

This popular pastime helps to improve cognitive ability.

And how to avoid having one in the first place.

Do simple things to look younger.

© 2020 Galvanized media. all rights reserved. EatThis.com is part of AllRecipes Food Group