KY’s first coronavirus patient ‘did not qualify for testing.’ Hospital isolated them anyway.
The small-town hospital where Kentucky’s first case of coronavirus appeared says it took steps to isolate the patient, even though the person had not yet been tested for coronavirus.
Harrison Memorial Hospital also said Saturday that employees who had contact with the patient with coronavirus will isolate themselves to protect against the spread of the disease.
The Cynthiana hospital said in an announcement posted on its website that the person who has tested positive for COVID-19 first came to the facility “with flu-like symptoms.” The hospital did not say when that occurred.
The hospital said it has been screening patients for the possibility that they have coronavirus since early January.
“At that time patient did not meet KDPH (Kentucky Department for Public Health) health screening and was treated for the presented symptoms,” the hospital said in the statement. “When symptoms did not subside, the patient returned.”
At that point, the hospital did further tests and contacted the state health department, but the department “determined the patient did not qualify for testing” for coronavirus, the hospital said.
At that point, the hospital’s clinicians decided to admit the patient to the hospital because of their condition. The patient, who has not been publicly identified, was placed in a negative pressure isolation room, the hospital said.
The patient was transferred from there to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital and on Friday afternoon was confirmed to have COVID-19. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday that the person’s condition is serious but improving.
When the hospital was notified Friday that its former patient had tested positive for coronavirus, staff members immediately got in touch with the Centers for Disease Control and the public health commissioner to discuss precautions that should be taken to protect patients and staff.
The hospital has since “evaluated the staff members who had contact with the patient,” and none are showing symptoms of coronavirus, according to the statement.
“Employees who were exposed will follow the current CDC recommendations,” including isolation for 14 days after their last known contact, the hospital said.
“If after the 14-day period, they remain healthy, these employees are allowed to return to work and normal activities,” the hospital said.
The hospital did not say how many employees were affected.
The hospital said staff members are given “personal protective equipment” anytime they are caring for someone who is suspected of having an infectious disease.
Antimicrobial disinfectant is used to clean “every surface in both clinic and public spaces each day.”
“Terminal cleaning includes removing all detachable objects in the room, cleaning lighting and air duct surfaces in the ceiling, and cleaning everything downward to the floor,” the hospital said. “Items removed from the room are disinfected or sanitized before being returned to the room.”
Harrison Memorial “wants to alleviate concern to the public,” the statement said. “We have the facilities and the expertise to care for patients, while protecting the safety of all of our patients, visitors and employees.”
Harrison Memorial’s website says it is a nonprofit, locally-owned facility with 61 beds.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 5:40 PM.
