Some Kentucky hospitals limit visitation, add screening as coronavirus cases increase
Baptist Health Lexington temporarily limited visitors after the number of coronavirus cases increased in the state, officials said Monday.
“In an abundance of caution, we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols at the hospital until further notice to protect patients, as well as the staff and community,” the hospital said in a news release.
Baptist joined University of Kentucky Medical Center in restricting the number, age or type of visitors. Harrison County said it also was delaying some elective surgeries.
Two more cases of coronavirus were confirmed Monday, bringing the total to six. There were two patients in Lexington, three patients in Harrison County and one patient in Louisville.
At Baptist, only parents and grandparents will be allowed to visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. On the Mother-Baby and Labor and Delivery units, parents, grandparents, and siblings without fevers or runny noses will be allowed to visit. Only two visitors at a time are permitted.
Intensive Care, Telemetry, and Medical/Surgical patients will be allowed up to two visitors at a time from the immediate family.
On other units such as hospice, clergy for family support — along with immediate family members only — are allowed.
Visitors were urged to remember to wash their hands with soap and water when entering and leaving patient rooms, the hospital said. In addition to fever and runny nose, body aches and respiratory symptoms should keep people away from patients.
“The well-being and safety of our patients and the community is always our top priority,” said Bill Sisson, president of Baptist Health Lexington. “Our healthcare professionals are highly trained and ready to handle any kind of emergency. We ask that visitors adhere to these temporary restrictions so that we can maintain the safest possible environment for everyone.”
The University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center spokesman Jay Blanton said the hospital will continue its ban on visitors younger than 12 initially imposed in mid-January to help battle the spread of flu. UK has been treating one coronavirus patient in isolation.
No visitors under the age of 18 are permitted in the Bone Marrow Transplant area.
No visitors with any symptoms of flu-like illness are allowed at the hospital. Only two visitors will be permitted in a patient’s room at one time.
Visitors may be issued masks or other protective clothing. Additional restrictions are also in place in special care units, such as women’s and children’s, critical care and oncology units.
At Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana where the first coronavirus patient in the state sought treatment, visitors were limited to immediate family. The hospital was canceling some elective surgeries, procedures and testing, according to a post on its Facebook page.
Patients who are not notified still have appointments as originally scheduled.
In Morehead, St. Claire Healthcare is implemented mandatory screening for patients registering for care at all locations. Patients should not postpone treatment out of coronavirus concerns, officials said.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Blood Center is urging healthy individuals to donate blood to ensure an adequate blood supply.
“Emerging illness which could impact the blood supply is always at top of mind at blood centers,” said Dennis Williams, medical director at Kentucky Blood Center. “There is no known risk of transmitting the virus through blood, but the greater concern is the loss of donations due to drive cancellations, social distancing, and possible quarantines.”
The center asked donors to refrain from giving blood for 28 days after having traveled to countries where the coronavirus is most prominent, such as China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy.
People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) or have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 should not donate, officials said in a news release.
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 11:14 AM.