Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has announced additional precautions aimed at better protecting the safety of its patients, Associates and others in our community.

Actions include:

• Asking those concerned about whether they may have been exposed to the Coronavirus to avoid emergency departments unless you need hospital care;
• Enacting new screening procedures at all its facilities; travel history, COVID-19 exposure, fever and/or respiratory illness;
• Limiting access points to its hospitals;
• Restricting the number of visitors to two per patient. Children under 12 will not be allowed to visit at this time;
• Temporarily suspending all on-site, non-Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare meetings, events and tours of facilities;
• Posting signs at clinic entrances with instructions for patients with fever or symptoms of respiratory infection to alert staff so appropriate precautions can be implemented;
• Encouraging individuals to visit Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare COVID-19 website for latest information.

It is important to understand that unlike influenza, there is no treatment for COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 will not be hospitalized but will recover at home. CDC is encouraging patients with mild respiratory illness to stay home.

Methodist continually evaluates its processes to best meet the needs of our patients, and we are collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and local and state Health Departments. Additional precautions will be put into place as needed.

General Health Measures

As always, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other viruses and infections, please remember to practice good overall respiratory hygiene. This includes frequent and thorough handwashing, refraining from touching your face, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and staying home when you are sick.

Please call your primary care physician if you have been exposed to the new coronavirus or travelled internationally and have symptoms such as fever, chills or cough. Your physician will help guide you to the appropriate resources for testing and/or treatment.

For more information, please visit our Your Health by MLH Blog.

If you need a primary care physician, visit methodisthealth.org/primarycare.

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