“If a patient tests positive for COVID 19 and does not require a hospital admission, they will be advised to return home and self-isolate and we will provide them with information about self-isolation and what to do if their condition worsens.
“Patients who are unwell and require a hospital admission will be admitted to a single room and cared for using respiratory isolation precautions,"
Ms Dyson said the ERH has plans in place if they get multiple positive cases and will follow guidelines from DHHS.
“In the event we have multiple numbers of patients requiring admission to the hospital, a separate area has been designated for admission of these patients to reduce the potential for transmission of the virus to other patients. As with all infectious patients, strict respiratory isolation precautions will be in place for all patients.”
“People who fit the state government criteria for testing have a nose and throat swab taken which is sent to Melbourne for testing. Patients are notified of their result within 24-48 hours.
“From the people presenting to be screened to date, we are finding that only a very small number fit the critera for testing and so far we have had no positive cases recorded at Echuca Regional Health.”
Images of people waiting in lines at metro hospitals to be tested has caused concern around spreading the virus, Ms Dyson said they have plans in place for reducing risk of people waiting in close proximity to be tested.
“ERH has a set process for triaging patients that ensures they are assessed, provided with a mask and hand-hygiene on presentation and ‘fast-tracked’ to the screening clinic which has it’s own waiting area.
“We have had multiple people attending since the clinic opened and when this occurs, after providing patients with a mask, we ask them to wait in their cars until they are able to be seen.”
