Yellow tent set up outside ER for virus testing
Published 2:31 pm Thursday, March 12, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Centra Southside Community Hospital Community Engagement and Relations representative Kerry Mossler said Thursday afternoon that a large yellow tent next to the hospital’s emergency room entrance may be used for coronavirus testing should the need arise.
The news comes after Longwood University released a statement late Wednesday night announcing that classes would be cancelled for at least a week after one student tested presumptive positive for the virus, also known as COVID-19.
Mossler said the tent is an extension of the emergency department and may be used to test for the virus if necessary. She specified the hospital has no confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday afternoon.
Centra sent out an advisory Wednesday highlighting the hospital’s close monitoring of the virus’ outbreak.
In the release, it was stated that Centra has developed a COVID-19 Task Force consisting of 55 individuals across the system in various roles. Some members of the task force are also part of the COVID-19 Incident Command Team, which meets daily to review the current situation and act accordingly. All coronavirus-related decisions from the hospital come through these teams.
Centra updated their visitation policies Wednesday, limiting visitation to healthy adults. The release asked that residents refrain from visiting other individuals in the hospital if the visitor is sick, has a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache or muscle and joint pain.
For protection of children and patients, visitation will be restricted to individuals 15 years of age and older and no more than two visitors per patient will be allowed at a time.
The hospital has additionally prohibited any business-related travel both internationally and domestic for its employees and has instituted a “travel furlough” policy for caregivers.
In-person meetings that include 40 or more individuals will be prohibited on Centra property to prevent any possible transmission.