Concord Coronavirus: Out Of 565 Tested At Hospital, 19 Positives

CONCORD, NH — Concord Hospital is considering a plan to allow staffers stay at local hotels in an effort to keep their families from being exposed to the new coronavirus. A number of staffers have privately raised concerns about potentially exposing family members to sickness after returning home due the long hours being put in at the hospital. Some, according to one commenter, were considering not going home and sleeping in their vehicles instead.

A decision has not been made to house staffers in hotels, according to Pamela Puleo, the chief advancement officer for the hospital, but the hospital is looking at the idea.

"Our Incident Command Center is considering the need for local resources to house staff that either cannot or do not want to go home," she said, "and we have had a number of hotels reach out to us with offers of support."

As of Thursday, the hospital has tested 565 patients with 19 positive results, about 3.4 percent of the tests. Three patients are currently hospitalized with the virus — while 16 are recovering at home. Another 653 tests are being ordered.

Currently, the hospital is under a "universal mask policy" for all patients and staff at the hospital, because individuals may be infected and not show symptoms. The hospital noted in its latest alert there may also be a delay in recognizing symptoms for patients and staffers. The hospital is following federal and state guidance relative to testing protocol, including for staff members, of who gets tested.

"We do not test staff unless they are symptomatic or have other individual circumstances where testing would be a prudent measure," Puleo said.

The hospital is also limiting visitation to the maternity unit at the hospital. The Family Place allows one supporter person with the exception of the following: for a pregnant woman 32 weeks or greater from out of state; pregnant women unassigned to a Concord Hospital obstetric provider; and pregnant woman who is symptomatic and needs to deliver or be seen in triage within 14 days of symptoms. The policy was changed based on standards in community and tertiary hospitals in the state.

An "alternative care site" has been set up at NHTI, the city's community college, with a number of medical partners, including LRGHealthcare (Lakes Region and Franklin Regional Hospitals), the Capital Area Public Health Network, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, and the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, the hospital said.

"The goal of the site is to provide space for COVID-19 positive patients who do not require acute care, such as those convalescing or needing isolation, so that hospitals may preserve their capacity for patients needing a higher level of care," according to Marci DeCarli, a philanthropy officer at the hospital. "All medical operations are being directed and managed by the partner hospitals. The ACS will only be activated if deemed necessary by the hospitals based on patient volume."

Screening at the Pleasant Street campus takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for capital region residents "experiencing a fever or non-critical respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath," according to the hospital.

The hospital thanked Voya Financial for donating KIND bars to hospital staffers and Greg Meeh and Cold Garden Spirits of Canterbury for donating distillery-made hand sanitizer. The company is considering offering free sanitizer at its distillery sometime next week — just bring a container like a jelly jar.

Donations are still needed. The wish list includes N95 masks, handsewn masks, hand sanitizer, new digital thermometers, nonlatex gloves, brown paper lunch bags, half-face respirators, and screening tests. Contributions will be accepted from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the visitor entrance.

Help Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

ALSO READ:

• Girl Scouts Earn Silver Awards Making Coronavirus Face Masks
• Coronavirus Leads 27,454 To File For Unemployment In NH
• Coronavirus in NH: 4th Patient Dies, 415 Cases With More Likely
• NHDES: Please Only Flush Toilet Paper
• Child Safety Advocates: Stay Vigilant Despite Coronavirus
• Quarantined Firefighters Test Negative For Coronavirus

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.