There will be another 26-hour closure of the emergency room in in Merritt this weekend because of a lack of doctors.

Interior Health says the ER will be closed between 6 a.m. Sunday, July 21 and 8 a.m. Monday, July 22, with people being directed to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this closure.

This is the seventh ER closure in Merritt this year, and fifth this month. The ER reopened after a 26-hour closure at 8 a.m. this morning, July 20.

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.