Landmark Medical Center Placed Under Lockdown for Ebola Threat

Landmark Medical Center was placed under lockdown for several hours on Friday night due to a possible Ebola threat.

A Rhode Islander who returned from West Africa 17 days ago was being monitored at the medical facility for mild symptoms of the Ebola virus, according to a statement issued by Governor Lincoln D. Chafee.

Access to the hospital was blocked off with barriers and crime scene tape and patients were taken to other medical centers during the patient’s evaluation, WPRI reported.

The lockdown lasted from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to WJAR NBC10.

The patient was sent home after medical evaluations revealed the patient was not infected with the disease.

“On behalf of the State of Rhode Island, we appreciate the professionalism and service of the staff at Landmark,” Chafee said in a statement. “They were organized and effective.”

All persons returning from West Africa receive daily checkups by state and local health departments for 21 days from the date of their departure, according to the CDC.

“We are pleased that Landmark continues to actively participate in providing health care to our citizens, and that we are seeing collaboration among our hospitals, health-care professionals, first responders, and Rhode Island’s Health Department and Emergency Management Agency,” Chafee said.

Photo Credit: Landmark Medical Center Facebook page.