Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Information

Our hospitals are committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors. We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking the necessary steps to ensure we are fully prepared to care for patients, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in partnership with our local and state health departments.

We want to reassure our communities that it is safe to come to the hospital should you or your family need care. We stand ready to serve you.

COVID-19 Update from Sovah Health - August 5, 2020

At Sovah Health, the health and safety of our patients and team is always our highest priority. This week listen as Dr. Abiodun Otolorin, Hospitalist, shares our bi-weekly update and provides tips from the CDC about what people should know when deciding to go out and the risks that are involved. The full list from the CDC can be found here.

Visitor Policy

Laboratory Testing Fact Sheets

Below are a number of resources to help educate you and your family on COVID-19. For more information on the virus, please contact the Virginia Department of Health.

Maintaining a Clean & Safe Environment

Sovah Health is committed to providing a clean and safe care environment, and we are taking all precautionary measures to safeguard our staff, providers and those we serve against the spread of illness. Our hospital is clean and safe – just like it always has been! One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our physical facility. We partner with a national environmental services vendor to keep our hospital current on the most effective cleaning and disinfection protocols available in healthcare today. Learn More 

COVID-19 Online Risk Assessment

To help support the health of our community, we are providing access to an online COVID-19 risk assessment developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This tool does NOT provide a diagnosis, and it should NOT be used as a substitute for an assessment made by a healthcare provider.

Begin CDC Online Assessment

Sovah Health - Martinsville Implements Updated Limited Visitor Policy

July 31, 2020 - Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the increased rate of transmission in Martinsville & Henry County, Sovah Health - Martinsville will be enforcing a modified limited visitor policy effective immediately for all inpatient units with specific exceptions. Sovah Health – Danville will remain under their current modified limited visitor protocol. Learn More

Sovah Health - Danville Implements Updated Limited Visitor Policy

July 24, 2020 - Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the increased rate of transmission in Danville & Pittsylvania County, Sovah Health - Danville will be enforcing a modified limited visitor policy effective immediately for all inpatient units and outpatient areas with specific exceptions. Sovah Health – Martinsville will remain under their current limited visitor protocol. Learn More

Taking Care of Your Child’s Health and Wellness during COVID-19

Like many aspects of daily life, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we think about and access healthcare these days. For families, that includes pediatric care for children. We asked Stacey Humphreys, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Sovah Pediatrics Martinsville, and asked Aubrey McBryde, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Sovah Pediatrics Danville to talk about the importance of continuing to seek proper care for your child and answer some frequently asked questions regarding children’s health during this time. Learn More

Sovah Health Resumes Elective and Non-urgent Surgeries and Procedures - Letter to Sugical Patients

June 5, 2020 - Do you have questions about your upcoming surgery? View this letter to our patients. Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Maintaining Your Health, Ensuring Your Safety by James Isernia, MD, Medical Staff President.

As healthcare providers, patient wellbeing is our chief concern every day of the year.  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, part of how we kept our community safe was limiting elective and non-urgent procedures at Sovah Health. Currently, the threat of COVID-19 in our community seems to be under control, allowing our community to start to re-open and Sovah Health to begin gradually resuming these procedures. For some, this change is a welcome return to maintaining personal health and addressing medical issues. For others, this news may cause anxiety about safety.  I’d like to address these concerns with the hope of relieving fears that might make people overly cautious about seeking care and treatment. Learn More

Treating Patients in Isolation by Dr. Balaji Desai - Infectious Disease Doctor

Treating infectious diseases, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), is not new to hospitals, and the guidelines for protecting patients, staff and visitors are comprehensive and evidence-based. You hear often that COVID-19 patients are treated in isolation, and while specific elements of COVID-19 isolation may differ from other infectious diseases, the fundamental practices for isolation treatment do not. Learn More

Minutes Matter: Don’t Put Your Heart Health On Hold During COVID-19

When a heart attack strikes, every minute matters. In fact, the first few minutes are critical in determining the short-term and long-term outcome for the patient. While the world continues to focus on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, cardiovascular disease, or heart disease, is still the leading cause of death in the United States – and as such – it’s important to seek care urgently. Learn More

COVID-19 Testing FAQ

Have questions about COVID-19? Check out our FAQ. Learn More

How to Make Face Covers

Many have asked whether they should be wearing face covers (masks) in public as part of the CDC’s new recommendation. We support this practice. Here is a link from the CDC that describes how to wear and make a face cover - Cloth Face Covering Instructions and Guidance From CDC. A how-to instructional video about making a face covering out of a hand towel, handkerchief, or old t-shirt can be viewed here.

Handmade Happiness Project

Need a fun, family activity for your kids to do while school is out?! We have the answer!! Sovah Health is asking the children in our community to make creative, fun, colorful, homemade cards, letters or drawings for our patients and caregivers to brighten their day. Click here to learn more.

Sovah Health Accepting Donations of Medical and Protective Supplies and Equipment

In response to questions about how members of the community can assist in the region’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response, Sovah Health today announced that it is accepting donations of unused and handmade medical and protective supplies and equipment. Learn more about donations here.

Laboratory Testing Fact Sheets

SARS-CoV-2 igG Test 

For Patients - Click to view Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of using this test for detecting antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19. After reading this Fact Sheet, if you have questions or would like to discuss the information provided, please talk to your healthcare provider.

For Providers - Click to view Fact Sheet

SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay is authorized for the detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum (including collected using a serum separator tube), and plasma (ACD, CPD, CPDA-1, dipotassiumEDTA, tripotassium EDTA, lithium heparin, lithium heparin in a separator tube, sodium citrate, sodium heparin).

Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Test

For Patients - Click to view Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of using this test for the diagnosis of COVID-19. After reading this Fact Sheet, if you have questions or would like to discuss the information provided, please talk to your healthcare provider.

For Providers - Click to view Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet informs you of the significant known and potential risks and benefits of the emergency use of the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test. The Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test is authorized for use on using respiratory specimens collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC

Access these tools from the CDC: how to protect yourself, what to do if you are sick, utilize the self checker tool and much more!

Quick Links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
• Virginia Department of Emergency Management
• Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
• NC Department of Health & Human Services 

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Visitor Restrictions and Screening Guidelines

Sovah Health announced on June 15th that it is transitioning from a zero-visitor protocol to limited visitor restrictions as the hospital gradually resumes elective and non-urgent cases and services at its Danville campus. Sovah Health-Martinsville will remain under a zero-visitor protocol due to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the community.

The decision was made as current projections continue to indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the Dan River Region and after careful review of state and federal guidance. The updated restrictions, which will now allow some patients to have one visitor or support person per day, have been implemented effective immediately.

All visitors must be 18 years of age or older, will be screened upon entry and are required to bring and wear a mask and an armband while in the facility. Visitors who do not meet screening criteria at entry will be asked to reschedule their visit until they are symptom-free.

Visitors are not allowed for patients who are high-risk (located in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department and Behavioral Health), in isolation, are immunocompromised or patients who are under observation or test positive for COVID-19.

Sovah Health continues to screen everyone who enters the facility for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, per CDC guidelines. 

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What to do if you are experiencing symptoms

First and foremost - if you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, notify the dispatch agent that your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19. 

For non-emergency needs, if you need medical attention due to respiratory illness symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and plan to visit our hospital, your primary care provider or an urgent clinic, please call ahead before you go and let them know that you are experiencing symptoms that may possibly be related to COVID-19. This will allow providers to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed.

Please be reassured that our number one priority is the health and well-being of our community – and that includes you. We are prepared to manage an outbreak of respiratory illness, and we encourage you to follow the guidance above and stay tuned to updates from the CDC to help protect you and your loved ones. Keeping our community healthy is a community effort, and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep our community healthy today and for generations to come.

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Hygiene Reminders from the CDC

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

 
Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Why? Read the science behind the recommendations.

Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water

You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.

Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,

• Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
• Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
• Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.

Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here.

How to use hand sanitizer

• Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
• Rub your hands together.
• Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

For more information, visit the CDC website.

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Are there different strains of coronavirus?           

Yes, there are seven different coronaviruses known to infect humans.  

• Four of the seven coronaviruses are very common, more mild (similar to the common cold), and most people will be infected with at least one of them in their lifetime. Healthcare providers test for these common coronaviruses routinely, and no public health measures are needed to address these common coronaviruses. People infected with the common coronaviruses can avoid passing them to others by covering their coughs and sneezes, cleaning their hands frequently and containing germs by staying home when ill. 
• Three of the seven coronaviruses are rare and can cause more severe illness; this includes COVID-19. Testing for this virus can only be done at CDC; healthcare providers are not able to test for this virus independent of the public health department.

A complete list of frequently asked questions and answers about COVID-19 is available on the CDC website, by clicking here.