Precautions taken for coronavirus

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Weston County Health Services and the Weston County Manor have implemented a screening process for visitors in order to protect patients from COVID-19. Coronavirus is a family of viruses . COVID-19 is short for coronavirus disease 2019, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
“We are doing this as a precautionary measure. We want to be proactive,” said Angela Phillips, prevention nurse at Weston County Health Services. “Hand-washing is the most important item that people need to focus on for prevention.” 
As part of the hospital’s emergency preparedness plan for the coronavirus, all visitors will be screened about recent travel upon entering the facility. The hospital and the Manor are also asking anyone who is experiencing a cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath to avoid visiting the facility. 
“We have taken precautionary action, along with guidance from the Wyoming Department of Health and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and will begin screening of all visitors in both the Manor and the hospital,” Phillips said. “Before visiting a patient or resident, an individual must complete a form, which questions symptoms and recent travel, along with any known exposures.”
All Manor visitors need to enter through the main entrance to complete the form; hospital visitors can complete the form at the nurse’s station, Phillips said. 
“If you need to be seen as a patient and are exhibiting any respiratory symptoms, we do ask that they get a mask at the door. All patients will be asked about recent exposures and travel history as well,” Phillips said. “We are prepared to handle these situations that may arise in our community, although Wyoming does not have any confirmed coronavirus cases.” 
Weston County School District No. 1 has also begun looking at precautionary measures. Superintendent Brad LaCroix said that the schools plan to disinfect more with foggers used to disinfect large areas at once, as well as educate students and staff on proper measures to protect themselves. 
Weston County Public Health Nurse Lori Bickford said that there is no need for the public to panic and that when people are fearful they do not think reasonably. She noted that she does not think the Weston County community has expressed significant worry over the illness. 
“We have to look at the facts and this illness is acting like an influenza we have never seen, there is no vaccine or antiviral for it,” Bickford said. “We have to rely on hand washing and social distancing.” 
The Wyoming Department of Health has updated its health recommendations as the risk of the virus spreading in the country grows, according to a press release dated March 9. 
“While the current risk of transmission in Wyoming is still low, the overall situation surrounding the coronavirus disease 2019 continues to become more concerning,” the release says. 
There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the state, according to Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer and state epidemiologist. The department believes the risk in Wyoming remains low, she said. Bickford noted that Wyoming residents do need to accept the fact that someone will show up in the state with the virus but that state health officials are prepared to handle the situation. 
“We believe it’s likely the disease will spread to this state at some point, but do not yet know how widespread the illness will be over time after it does arrive,” Harrist said in the press release. “In Wyoming, travelers to certain locations with high numbers of reported cases and close contacts to ill people are at highest risk.” 
There are still many unknowns about the virus, Harrist said, including how easily it spreads and how many patients may experience severe illness. 
Symptoms reported are familiar and include fever, cough and shortness of breath, she said. 
To help avoid the coronavirus, and any other respiratory illness, the Department of Health recommends that people avoid contact with sick people; stay home as much as possible while ill; cover the nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated and wash hands often. 
“One thing we are not recommending is the use of face masks as a general preventive measure,” Harrist said in the release. 
But people who are ill and those who work in health care and are taking care of patients should use face masks, she said. 
The Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, which is part of the Wyoming Department of Health, began testing for the virus last week, with other large commercial labs adding the test to their services, the release says. 
“Travel recommendations and restrictions are also important to help prevent the spread of illness,” Harrist said in the release.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends no nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. It also recommends no travel on cruise ships. Entry into the country from China and Iran is also restricted. 
LaCroix said that while the school does not plan on canceling any trips in the state for sports or other events, it has had educational events in other states canceled because of concerns about the coronavirus.