With the first case of COVID-19 case being called a community spread case, the protections from spreading the virus even further, are being enforced for how those who may exhibiting symptoms receive medical assistance.
The recommendation we’ve heard for the last few weeks of frequent handwashing, staying home when feeling ill and avoiding large crowds is still the norm.
For those who feel like they may be infected, health officials again asking that they do not show up at the hospital emergency room or any local clinics for a diagnosis.
Summit County Health Director Rich Bullough says the first step for anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, dry cough and shortness of breath contact their health provider by phone or through a telehealth provider.
The recommendation is for anyone who thinks they may be showing symptoms of COVID 19 - is to make sure they contact their health provider by phone – or through a telehealth provider. Rich Bullough says following this procedure is critical.
“And if an individual for some reason doesn't access the telemedical or telemedicine system, they are strongly advised - and this is critical - to call forward,” he said. If they intend to present to one of the many clinics across the state or in Summit County, they need to call that clinic ahead of time and let them know there coming. That's also true with the emergency department at Intermountain Hospital in Park City and they will at that point in time they'll go ahead and do a screening using telemedicine.”
Bullough isn’t aware of anyone who has been hospitalized with the virus. Hospitals he says are prepared should that be necessary.
“All of the hospitals, to my knowledge, have at least some capacity to create a negative pressure environment to protect the safety of individuals that may be in the hallway etc. I can't speak to the exact capacity of our hospital in Park City. I do know that they do have that capacity. I believe they have multiple rooms that have that capacity and my understanding is that they have to opportunities to corridor off larger areas of the hospital and, in essesnce, make them isolation unit,” Bullough said.
Utah Telehealth Network: https://utn.org/
