After a series of overnight shootings that left two people dead and several others injured, Chicago-based John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital limited the number of trauma victims' families and friends entering the emergency room, NBC Chicago reports.
Two people were killed and 28 were wounded between midnight and 3 a.m. Aug. 5, according to Chicago police. Ten of these patients received treatment at Stroger.
Hospital and police officials denied reports of a potential lockdown of the hospital.
"Over the past 24 hours, Stroger's trauma unit received an unusually high volume of patients," said Caitlin Polochak, the hospital's communications manager. "At no time did Stroger go on bypass or 'lock down' its trauma unit."
"We are asking the families of trauma patients to limit visitation at this time to immediate family members only so staff may focus on patient care," Ms. Polochak said.