Whanganui Hospital has only enough trained staff to operate three ventilators and Covid-19 patients needing intensive care could be transferred to Wellington.
The hospital does not have an intensive care unit but has six critical care unit beds, three supported by ventilators. It also has two portable ventilators.
The Whanganui District Health Board says scenario modelling shows that most people who contract Covid-19 will not be hospitalised but patients meeting "a criteria" would be transferred to an intensive care unit in Wellington.