UPDATE 4 p.m. – Interior Health says it has been able to find doctors to staff the emergency room at the Nicola Valley Hospital over the August long weekend.

It says the facility which was expected to be closed for 14 hours between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 4, will remain open.

The ER in Merritt – which is normally open 24/7 – has already been closed on eight occasions this year due to either a lack of doctors or nurses.

During each of those closures, Merritt and area residents are told to head to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops if they need emergency care.