Reports circulated Thursday that the Huntsville Hospital System has reduced the hours or furloughed about 2,000 employees. Some staff have also been re-purposed.

It is unclear how many HH employees at Madison Hospital have been affected.

Huntsville Hospital officials said the reductions are due to a loss of revenue at the hospital caused by the stoppage of elective procedures at the hospital’s facilities due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The hospital also reports a low number of patients being admitted and treated for non-elective care.

“With the postponement of elective procedures and surgeries, many areas in the hospital have reduced staffing or have closed temporarily. Some affected employees have been temporarily assigned to places like the temperature stations to check employee and physicians coming to work or at the HH Fever & Flu Clinic,” a statement from Huntsville Hospital said. “Other employees have been furloughed until such time that their departments reopen. These employees have been given guidance on applying for unemployment benefits related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.”