The first “person under investigation” for possible COVID-19 illness has prompted more restrictive precautions at Allen County Regional Hospital.
No cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Allen County, though cases have been confirmed in Butler, Franklin, Johnson and Wyandotte counties. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has conducted 234 negative tests, with 11 positive including one fatality, as of noon Monday.
The hospital will limit public access to its main entrance and emergency room, and will post an employee at each entrance to screen patients and visitors. The main entrance will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, directing patients and visitors to the emergency room entrance.
Only one visitor or companion is allowed at a time, including during emergency room and other outpatient visits. Non-patient visitors must stay in the waiting areas and are not allowed to enter treatment areas. Visiting hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. No children under the age of 12 are allowed as visitors, unless that child is a family member of a patient who is dying.
Any visitor or companion who is screened with a positive result (such as flu-like symptoms or travel to an affected area) will not be allowed to enter the hospital.
The hospital’s cafeteria will be closed to the public beginning today through the end of the month or later.
All non-essential public and community meetings through the end of April will be canceled or postponed.
The hospital has set up an “incident command” structure, where emergency leaders will monitor and evaluate the situation with daily updates and meetings.
