Issued by SGHS this morning:
Since Southeast Georgia Health System began actively monitoring patients for coronavirus, we have consulted with the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) on a number of patients. To date, GDPH has authorized testing for two patients based on their clinical presentation and on the evening of Tuesday, March 10, the Health System received notification from GDPH that a patient treated at Southeast Georgia Health System – Camden Campus has preliminarily tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Results for the second patient have not yet been finalized.
We continue to work closely with public health officials to protect the health and safety of all of our patients, visitors and our team members. We are assessing the risk of exposure pursuant to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and GDPH guidelines, and have notified those team members that may have had prolonged close contact to the patient. Out of an abundance of caution, potentially impacted team members will remain at home and be monitored by the GDPH and Team Member Health.
In addition, although the risk of exposure is low, the Health System has made the decision to proactively notify all patients who may have had contact with the affected patient. Those individuals should monitor their health closely and if they begin to be symptomatic, they should seek medical care from their primary care provider or the Emergency Care Center. It is recommended that they call in advance of presenting to a medical provider so that precautionary measures can be instituted prior to their arrival.
The public can be assured that it is safe to seek care at the Health System’s Camden Campus. We have the facilities and the expertise to care for those patients while protecting the safety of all of our patients, visitors and team members. The Camden Campus has negative pressure isolation rooms with specialized ventilation systems and our caregivers use personal protective equipment when caring for any patient suspected of having an infectious disease.