HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Tidelands Health said Thursday they're exploring options to help alleviate their staffing issues while they work to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

A Tidelands spokesperson says since the beginning of the pandemic, 44 of its staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Additionally, as cases spike across the Palmetto State, Tidelands Health says their ICUs are near capacity.

Tidelands Health released the following statement on addressing their staffing issues:

Like many health systems, Tidelands Health is working to expand staffing as we respond to a rapid and dramatic increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

We’re approaching that in a number of ways, including: reassigning staff within our health system to support the areas of greatest need; offering incentive pay for current staff members who pick up additional shifts; aggressively recruiting to fill vacant positions; securing supplemental temporary nursing staff from staffing agencies; and temporarily rescheduling inpatient elective surgeries to redirect those staff resources. Working with the South Carolina Hospital Association, we’re also exploring the availability of National Guard clinical professionals to support our efforts as has occurred in other states facing a COVID-19 surge. This multifaceted approach is allowing us to effectively respond to the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations that’s occurring across our region.