Interior Health says the emergency department at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed for 24 hours, starting 8 a.m. this morning, July 4.

It says the closure is “due to unforeseen limited physician availability.”

“Interior Health apologizes for this temporary change to normal services,” the health authority said, in a statement.

Residents are being told to call 911 in the event of an emergency, or head to emergency departments at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or Kelowna General Hospital. People are also being told to call HealthLink BC at 811 if they aren’t sure if they need to seek emergency care.

The emergency department is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. tomorrow, July 5