Triage Tents Set Up At Trinitas Medical Center Amid Coronavirus

ELIZABETH, NJ — Trinitas Regional Medical Center set up "triage" tents Monday outside the Emergency Department in case it sees an increase in patients amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

Visitors will also no longer be allowed at Trinitas Regional Medical Center except under special circumstances.

"As of 8 p.m.this evening, March 16, all patient visiting at Trinitas is suspended. Exceptions will be made for parents visiting newborns, and in end-of-life situations," said Trinitas President & Chief Executive Officer Gary S. Horan.

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Medical and nursing students will be allowed entrance as part of their clinical rotations. All other students will not be permitted to enter. In addition, the volunteer program has been suspended until further notice.

All services, including outpatient care and elective surgery, will continue until further notice, the medical center said. Staff working at hospital entrances must wear a surgical mask at all times while in their assigned work area, the center said.

Vendors will not be allowed into the medical center unless they are bringing patient-related equipment and supplies.

Anyone who does enter the hospital must use hand sanitizer before coming inside, the center said.

Horan noted that anyone who answers "yes" to the questions below will not be allowed entry into the hospital:

• Do you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath?
• Did you travel to a location outside the U.S. in the past 14 days?
• Did you have contact with someone who has been infected with COVID-19?

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