BY PAT BROWN
PUBLISHER
The laboratory at Magee General Hospital has been contracted to provide testing services associated with Covid 19. This does not represent these cases were from Simpson County as reported earlier.
Thus far there have been a total of eight cases of Covid 19-Coronavirus, diagnosed at Magee General Hospital. This represents the results from 58 tests. This information is according to the public information officer for the hospital along with other designated spokesman namely Pam Wallace and Clancey Sanford. According to Sanford, there has been no need to hospitalize any of the cases they have been sent home to self-quarantine.
Visitation at Magee General Hospital has been suspended and elective procedures have been postponed. This also includes the services of visiting physicians.
Wallace said the hospital is currently working with essential staff and other employees are working from home as possible.
Wallace reported there is a sufficient amount of personal protective equipment at present and they are working with Simpson County Emergency Management for additional materials as needed. In addition they are working closely with State Department of Health. They have surgical masks, N-95 masks and other protective equipment. They currently do not have ventilators in hand but are capable of stabilizing patients so they can be transferred as needed.
If a patient needs to be hospitalized they will not be allowed any visitors. The possible exception may be in an end-of-life situation and that is provided it can be accommodated. The only other exception would be if it were a small child as a patient.
Emergency Room operations include a waiting area for normal emergency situations. There is also a second emergency room facility for patients who may be experiencing symptoms to include; shortness of breath, passing out, temperatures of over 100, coughing and vomiting.
If need be there are plans in place to have additional physicians available however the current staff along with the emergency room staff have been able to handle patient needs.
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