About 100 people gathered outside of UPMC Braddock again today to protest the hospital's closure, currently slated for Jan. 31.

It's the latest in a series of protests held by residents and public officials who said they need more time to figure out what to do with the structure on how to help the borough's aging residents, many of whom use the facility. UPMC announced the decision in mid-October and so far has remained steadfast in its decision to close the hospital at the end of January.

Today marked the last day the hospital is admitting patients. Yesterday, seven medical and surgical patients and 32 psychiatric patients remained in the hospital, said UPMC spokesman Paul Wood.

At a microphone set up in front of Immanuel Baptist Church, across the street from the hospital, speakers urged participants to keep up hope that they could sway the medical giant to keep the hospital open and appealed to God to change UPMC executives' minds.

"We look to you God ... we pray that you will reach out to the executives at UPMC," said the Rev. James McDonald of First Baptist Church in Braddock Hills. "We are not giving up hope with you Lord God."

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