Merritt and area residents will be without emergency room coverage for a portion of the Labour Day long weekend because of a lack of doctors.

Interior Health says the ER at the Nicola Valley Hospital will be closed between 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 to 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2.

“Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time,” Interior Health said, in a statement.

“All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital.”

It’s the twelfth closure of the Merritt ER this year. The facility is normally open 24/7, but has been undergoing a series of closures because of a lack of staff for the past couple of years.

As has been the case during past emergency room closures, Interior Health says people in Merritt who need life-saving emergency care should call 9-1-1.

People who aren’t sure if they need to head to the emergency room are being told to contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.