GCHD COVID-19 Update

POMEROY–Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) co-CEO Jayd Keener stated the clinic now has a screening process to ask incoming patients several questions at the door before entering the reception area. Regular well-patient visits are being postponed for now, and telehealth services are being set up to assist patients. A trailer has been set up at the hospital for testing for the coronavirus, and Dr. Hauser, Garfield County Health District Health Officer, has approved in-car testing as well at the hospital. The GCHD staff are being screened twice each day for coronavirus.

The supply of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) has been a concern. The hospital and clinic staff are doing a bi-weekly inventory of PPE supplies and currently have about a 20 to 40–day supply, including 56 washable masks. GCHD are in contact with Public Health daily, in anticipation that more supplies become available and they are seeking other outside sources on their own. The community has been making and supplying masks, but are not approved for health-care providers. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has now recommended the use of masks when in public.

Garfield County Health District Administrator Martha Lanman, reported 16 people have been tested, 14 with negative results, and two still pending. She stated that the health district is working on a plan to get more masks, with some coming from donations. She said the Public Health District home test kits should be available sometime summer, and 15 fast-result testing machines have been acquired for the state and have been distributed to areas of the state with the greatest need at the current time.

Daily updates on the COVID-19 testing for Garfield County are available on the Garfield County Health District website: co.garfield.wa.us/public-health.