ELDORADO, CARMI & MCLEANSBORO, IL – Following Governor JB Pritzker’s epmergency declaration, Ferrell Hospital and outpatient clinics will begin screening all visitors and patients for symptoms and exposure risk of COVID-19 coronavirus, beginning at 8 AM on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Any person with symptoms of COVID-19 should not enter the hospital or clinic, but should instead contact our triage line first for instructions. Triage Line: 618-273-2275
As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), individuals will be screened for the following:
· Fever or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a cough or sore throat within the last 21 days.
· International travel within the last 14 days to restricted countries. For updated information on restricted countries, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers
· Contact with someone with known or suspected COVID-19.
These screenings and enhanced visitor restrictions are part of our effort to protect the public, our patients and employees, and to limit the spread of potential COVID-19 cases here in our community and region.
In addition to the screenings, flu-related visitor restrictions (implemented December 31, 2019) remain in effect at hospitals throughout the region. For more information about COVID-19, please visit our website at www.ferrellhospital.org, and click the blue bar at the top to visit the Illinois Department of Public Health site.