The emergency department at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed for 24 hours starting Sunday morning.

Interior Health says the closure, which will be in place from 8 a.m. Nov. 26 to 8 a.m. Nov 27 is due to a lack of doctors.

Its the 20th closure of the Merritt emergency department this year, and first in about a month.

As has been the case during previous closures, people in the Merritt-area in need of emergency services are being told to head to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

“During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital,” Interior Health said.

The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.