OCH gives insight on hospital capabilities, coronavirus preparedness

Proceeding the arrival of COVID-19, more commonly known as the novel coronavirus, in Mississippi, OCH Regional Medical Center has remained in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mississippi State Department of Health.

This communication is part of OCH'S multi-phase, 5 level plan to respond to any scale or intensity of widespread infection. Currently, OCH is on level 3 of the plan, which was initiated due to increased and sustained transmission of the virus to the general population within the United States.

OCH Marketing and Public Relations Director Mary Kathryn Kight said level 3 entails they are in frequent communication with health care providers in the area and updating them with information from the CDC and MSDH.

While people starting to get sick may wish to be tested, Kight said OCH is only testing patients who have flu-like symptoms and have traveled to affected areas within the past 14 days and/or people who have been in close contact with a lab-confirmed case.

The test is similar to flu tests that require the swabbing of the nose and back of the throat and are currently being sent from OCH to the public health lab in Jackson.

Liz Sharlot, the director for the office of communications at MSDH, said only the state public health lab in Jackson and Labcorp are certified to provide testing. However, she expects it will continue to expand to the commercial market.

“Jackson is the state's public health laboratory, and we test for all major diseases,” Sharlot said. “We are also the only ones who can test for certain kinds of diseases. That is why when you have a new virus, the CDC works with us about obtaining samples. As we see the disease progress, more labs will be able to perform the test after getting the verifications needed to do so.”

Noting the laboratory in Jackson as “the hub” for testing in the state, Sharlot said they are not concerned with their ability to efficiently process an influx of COVID-19 tests.

Mark Keenum. “At this juncture, as COVID-19 is now a growing reality in Mississippi, this course of action is prudent and provides us the best opportunity to make the transitions necessary to most effectively meet our educational responsibilities as well.”

MSU has also canceled all university-sponsored events until March 23.

On Wednesday afternoon, MSU announced it was restricting all international travel, including summer study abroad programs.

“The situation remains fluid and university plans are subject to change in response to new information and recommendations received,” said Mississippi Higher Education Commissioner Alfred Rankins Jr. “We continue to work with the Mississippi Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response Planning Steering Committee and the Mississippi State Department of Health as we develop our plans for the coming weeks and months. Our goal is to mitigate the risks posed by the coronavirus while maintaining the quality and integrity of our instructional programs.”

As one of the state's public universities, the Mississippi University for Women is also extending its spring break and moving to online courses starting March 23. No MUW students are currently studying abroad, but a planned summer study abroad to Ireland is being evaluated.

The W also announced that its Homecoming celebration, originally scheduled for March-26-29, would be postponed with both this years and next year's classes being recognized April 15-18, 2021.

While East Mississippi Community College has not yet announced a switch to online classes, but did announce that it would extend spring break until March 23. The college is using the additional time to monitor the novel coronavirus, and prepare to move face-to-face instruction online if needed.

Residential students are asked not to return to campus, and all EMCC campus activities have been canceled. Faculty and staff will return to work March 16.

“We are continuing to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and are working closely with health officials and regional institutions to develop a coordinated response, said EMCC

President Scott Alsobrooks.

Unlike the colleges, no statement has been given for the West Point Consolidated School District and the Starkville-oktibbeha Consolidated School District announced that it is not yet canceling school. However, in a statement released Thursday afternoon, the district said it would follow the advice of public health officials, should they recommend closing schools.

“This is an evolving situation,” read a line from the SOCSD release. “The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. At this time, public health officials have not recommended school closure. Should that change, we will follow their recommendation.”

The district listed several measures to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including hand sanitizer in hallways, graband-go breakfast and lunch, limiting school visitors, emphasizing the importance of hand washing and collaborating with OCH Regional Medical Center and other local and state entities.

The district is also regulating travel and large events, including evaluating whether to cancel or postpone the SHS

Prom, and following guidance from the Mississippi High School Activities Association regarding athletic events. Students and staff who have been out of the country or aboard a cruise ship are asked to selfquarantine for 14 days prior to returning to school. Field trips and other large gatherings will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she had been in contact with both Keenum and SOCSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant regarding the coronavirus.

“Obviously, all of that impacts the city,” Spruill said. “I think that there are opportunities for us to work together. I think that there are concerns that we have, because if the school system decides not to hold classes next week, then I think they have some vulnerable students who depend on food or meals associated with that, and how do we as a city help with that? There are aspects of what the city does and how we help our community that we might need to look at.”