Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill limiting visitors after positive coronavirus tests

Lehigh Valley Hospital– Schuylkill is limiting visitors and taking other measures after patients and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday.

Lehigh Valley Health Network spokesperson Brian Downs in a news release called the changes “a reflection of what’s occurring in the community.”

The number of coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania jumped by 1,309 on Wednesday, the largest one-day increase since May 8, according to the state Health Department. Reported cases grew to 1,376 Thursday. There were 11 new cases reported in Schuylkill County on Wednesday, and 87 confirmed tests over the last seven reports provided by the state.

Schuylkill County has hit a new plateau in cases reported over 7 days, but it has done so at a rate that is more than 10 times higher than it was just over a month ago. Thursday’s rate was 67.9 cases over 7 days per 100,000 population. On September 4, that rate was 6.4 per 100,000.

The county’s peak rate was 77.1 on Oct. 6.

LVH-Schuylkill is open and continues to accept patients, according to the release, and the hospital is unaware of any confirmed caregiver-to-patient exposure. However, all staff and physicians are being tested for the coronavirus, and visitors to the facility will now be limited. LVHN did not indicate the number of individuals who tested positive.

Effective at noon Thursday, LVH-Schuylkill limited visitation to:

Visitation of a patient nearing the end of life.

One coach or partner per patient on labor and delivery unit.

One parent/guardian at a time for pediatric patients.

One visitor to accompany patients for hospital discharge.

One visitor for patients undergoing same-day surgeries and procedures.

One visitor per patient in the emergency department.

No child under age 12 is permitted to visit in the hospital.

LVHN said it will enhance cleaning and sanitation throughout all of its facilities.

Lehigh County reported 45 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, and Northampton reported 46. The combined 91 cases was the largest Lehigh Valley increase since May 16, when 103 were reported.

Downs said LVHN is not considering additional visitation or other limitations at its Lehigh Valley facilities at this time.

“We continue screening anyone who comes into our hospitals and strongly urge safety protocols including social distancing, wearing a face covering and washing your hands. This is not the time to become complacent thinking that the virus is gone or that it is not dangerous,” he said.

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