The 21st shutdown of the Nicola Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department in 2024 has now wrapped up.

The 25 hour shutdown of the Merritt E-R began Monday morning at 7am, and ended at 8am Tuesday.

It represents the 2nd shutdown of the Merritt ER since the start of the previous weekend, after an overnight closure from Friday into Saturday.

Interior Health has not provided an explanation as to why — though Doctor shortages have been the main issue for Merritt.

These two shutdowns were on a list of dates the Mayor of Merritt, Mike Goetz, says he was given earlier this year, which pointed to as many as 30 potential closures from the start of October to the end of 2024.

The latest closure is the 6th to coincide with dates on that list, which is based around longer-term staff planning.

Merritt and other communities with a limited number of medical professionals to staff their hospitals often run until challenges around holidays and long-weekends.