Hospital closed to visitors

Monday, July 20, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. —Beginning today, Community Hospital will not allow visitors to see inpatients or to accompany outpatients to appointments due to recent increases in COVID-19 cases in Red Willow County as well as in the public health district.

“We are seeing an increase in cases, so we are tightening our infection control procedures,” said Sharon Conroy, Community Hospital Infection Preventionist nurse.

Inpatients

Visitation of all inpatients has been discontinued until further notice. Please consider Skype, Facetime and phone calls to make contact with loved ones and friends.

Outpatients

Outpatients coming for a lab test, radiology procedure, therapies, and rehabilitation, etc. will continue to be screened upon entering the hospital. Outpatients are requested to enter the facility wearing a mask and be unaccompanied. Community Hospital patient transporters are available to assist outpatients to their appointments and back to their vehicles. Waiting rooms and the hospital cafeteria are not open to the public at this time.

“If you are sick, please stay home out of respect for our patients’ and staff’s safety. We thank you for your understanding during this time as we continue taking precautionary action to protect our patients and staff from COVID-19,” Conroy said.

TestNebraska

Residents of Nebraska are encouraged to use the free TestNebraska program to test for COVID-19. Community Hospital is offering free testing sites July through October at McCook, Curtis and Trenton. On July 15, hospital staff tested more than 30 people in McCook. Today’s testing is at Curtis from 8-10 AM. Tuesday’s testing is in Trenton also from 8-10 AM.

Appointments are necessary by going to TestNebraska.com. Eligible residents will receive a QR code, unique to that specific individual and not transferable, which is good for eight days. Bring the QR code and your driver’s license to the appointment. For any residents who do not have home Internet, appointments can be made at the test sites, but all individuals are encouraged to make reservations at home prior to coming to the testing site if at all possible. More test days will be offered August through October with those dates to be announced closer to the events.

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