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Local hospital, nursing homes restricting outside visitors

Foothills—Colleges are extending spring breaks, March Madness is continuing with no fans and local nursing homes and St. Luke’s Hospital is restricting outside visitation. 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. 

White Oak Manor is one of several local nursing homes that is restricting visitation as well as the hospital. 

St. Luke’s released a statement Thursday saying there are no positive Coronavirus test results reported in Polk County. 

“We will continue to work closely with the Polk County Health and Human Services and will follow CDC guidelines as this situation evolves across our nation,” said the hospital’s release. 

St. Luke’s CEO Michelle Fortune said the hospital is restricting visitation currently and planned to update the status daily per CDC guidelines. Fortune said later Thursday the hospital planned to release new and additional restrictions due to some new guidance from the CDC. 

“We are updating our website and social media sites each time there is an additional change,” Fortune said. 

On Wednesday, White Oak Manor in Tryon announced that long-term care, assisted living at Benson Hall and short-term rehabilitation will limit access to all non-essential visitors. 

Harrison Cecil, White Oak Administrator, made the announcement to staff after carefully reviewing the CDC and AHCA recommendations regarding the prevention of COVID-19. 

No local schools have been closed, but officials are meeting frequently to assess the virus. 

The virus in Italy went from 20 confirmed cases to 9,000 in just 2 weeks. 

Gov. Cooper is not calling for schools to close or calling for the March Madness basketball tournament to be called off, but some state officials are urging large gatherings, especially for older people, to be postponed. 

Fortune sent a message this week that St. Luke’s has been monitoring the virus and has signs at all entrances that recommend any patient who think they may have been exposed to call 828-894-3311 for special instructions. A drill was also carried out at the hospital to include all areas of the hospital, she said, including representatives from the Polk County Health and Human Services. 

St. Luke’s also contracts with Atrium Health for various services and has access to its expanded resources for managing infectious diseases. 

Fortune also is encouraging everyone to practice safe hygiene to limit the spread of germs, including washing hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces often; avoiding close contact with people who are sick and staying home if someone is sick. 

Residents who are showing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should call their personal doctor or healthcare provider first. 

For South Carolina residents, anyone who does not have a primary care physician, MUSC Health is providing free tele-health screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave the home.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Care Line is available to provide general information about COVID-19 by calling 1-855-472-3432.  

The CDC website for all residents can be found at cdc.gov/coronavirus for more information.