The C-E-O of the state’s largest hospital says if the number of Iowans testing positive for Covid continues to accelerate, he expects to implement the next phase of a “surge” plan — and expand the Iowa City hospital’s ability to accept more patients.

Suresh Gunasekaran  — the C-E-O of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — briefed members of the State Board of Regents yesterday.  Ninety-three patients with the coronavirus were in Gunasekaran’s hospital yesterday at that time — a record — but he says there are still open beds.

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — the U-I-H-C — has expanded its intensive care unit to 116 beds and, if conditions worsen, the I-C-U may expand to 200 beds.