Concord Hospital Establishes Second Coronavirus Testing Site

CONCORD, NH — A second new coronavirus evaluation and testing site has been set up at Concord Hospital after three Merrimack County patients tested positive by the state. At least one of those patients lives in the Concord area but was not tested on the campus or at any of the hospital's other facilities, according to the hospital. So far, community testing sites have served 234 people and provided 117 tests.

"To date, the hospital has received results for 26 patients, which were negative," said Pamela Puleo, a chief advancement officer for the hospital.

The hospital currently has seven patients hospitalized awaiting test results. She said they were all in stable condition.

The hospital has established a second evaluation and testing site for COVID-19. Anyone at high risk for the virus or exhibiting symptoms should first contact their health care provider to be questioned about past travel history and specific symptoms. This tele-medicine process will then determine whether or not further evaluation and testing is needed.

"Should testing be appropriate, an appointment will be made at one of two testing sites," Puleo said.

The hospital has ordered testing for processing around 160 more patients.

Currently, hospital practices have suspended all regular office visits and are conducting telephone visits. So far, 1,100 appointments have been conducted via telephone with another 1,200 scheduled.

In order to focus on assisting coronavirus patients as well as testing, elective surgeries have been suspended with only high priority oncology and emergency surgeries being performed at the hospital. To stop the spread of the virus, the hospital is restricting visitor and patient access to the cafeteria, gift shop, and café. Visitors are being limited and everyone is tested before entering the hospital.

Puleo said the hospital is also in urgent need of new N-95 masks and sanitizer. Anyone willing to donate sanitizer and masks can drop them off at the visitor entrance of the hospital between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

One donation the hospital recently received was 168 boxes of Girl Scout cookies for team members donated by Girl Scout Troop 20507 and supporters who donated money to offset the cost of the cookies.

"Nothing like Samoas, Tagalongs and, of course, Thin Mints, to help us make through trying times," Puleo wrote. "Just what the doctor ordered."

What You Can Do To Stop The Spread

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. 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.

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