Virus Shakes Up Small Hospitals’ Earthquake Safety Goals

The 51-bed Sonoma Valley Hospital in California’s wine country already was struggling to meet stricter earthquake-proof building standards by the 2030 deadline. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The cancellation of elective procedures and surgeries, along with the costs to prepare the facility for Covid-19 patients, has drained almost $3 million from the hospital’s revenues over six weeks, CEO Kelly Mather said. That makes it increasingly difficult to invest $100 million to rebuild the hospital’s inpatient tower to comply with the standards.

“If the 2030 seismic requirements continue as they are today, as written, that will make our hospital close,” Mather ...