COVID-19 Information & Resources
Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and is taking all necessary steps and precautions to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe. Below is a list of current information and resources regarding COVID-19 and the measures that LMHS has recently implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the state continues a gradual, multi-phased reopening process, Governor Mike DeWine has authorized all surgical procedures to resume. Patients may contact their physician to schedule surgeries or procedures that were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients should discuss with their physicians any new or chronic conditions that may have a significant impact on their quality of life and make a joint decision about any procedure. In order to comply with social distancing and other restrictions set forward by Governor DeWine, Hospital visitation restrictions remain in place. Patients are allowed one support person to accompany them to their procedure. Visitors are required to wear a cloth face covering and practice social distancing measures.
LMHS is requiring all visitors to wear a face mask when visiting any of our healthcare facilities. Even those who feel well and are not exhibiting symptoms may be carrying the coronavirus. Covering the mouth and nose will help to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition to mask usage, LMHS encourages all visitors to maintain a safe social distance of six feet from others. Guidelines for wearing face coverings can be found here.
LMHS encourages the community to seek medical care when needed. LMHS has implemented several policies during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure our healthcare facilities are safe environments. Employees undergo daily temperature checks and are required to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Patients with COVID-19 are isolated, and our Environmental Services staff maintains a frequent sanitization schedule of all surfaces and equipment.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, and muscle pain or fatigue, may visit the LMH drive-through clinic, where a clinician will determine if testing is appropriate.
Beginning Monday, June 15, access to the LMH Drive-through Clinic will be reduced to two days each week. The Clinic now will provide testing services on Monday and Thursday only, from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 p.m.
- The clinic is located at 131 McMillen Drive in Newark.
- Photo identification is required.
- Patients are directed to drive up to a station where clinical staff will complete a screening to determine if testing is appropriate.
- Patients remain in their car during the testing process.
Licking Memorial Hospital has temporarily adjusted its visitation policy to keep patients safe from infection.
- Two adult visitor/support persons per patient will be allowed at any time. No visitors under the age of 12 are permitted.
- The only exception to the above guideline is in mother/baby area where siblings will be allowed to visit.
- For the safety of newborns, mother/baby visitors will be limited to: significant other, siblings, and grandparents.
- Clergy may visit patients at any time.
- All visitors and support persons must wear a face mask when in the Hospital.
- Patients who are positive with COVID-19 may not have in-person visitors unless receiving end-of-life care. Those visitors must wear the necessary PPE.
- The LMH Main Entrance and the Emergency Department (ED) entrance are the only doors open to the Hospital. All other doors have signage directing visitors to the Main Entrance.
- Staff will be stationed at these entrances where visitors are asked a few questions to screen for possible COVID-19 infection and have their temperature checked.
- If screened patients at the ED entrance have mild symptoms related to COVID-19, they are isolated in a comfortable tent area outside for the protection of other patients.
- Visitors are screened each day and receive a color-coded badge to wear at all times.
- Visitors without a badge may not enter any Hospital area, including the LMH Café and Main Street Coffee.
- Visitors are expected to perform hand hygiene at the point of screening, before entering the patient room and when leaving the patient room.
- Visitors/support persons who are coughing or show signs of illness, or who do not follow these standards, will be kindly asked to leave.
- Vendors are discouraged from entering the Hospital.
- However, if a visit is necessary, vendors must check in at the Purchasing entrance at the rear of the Hospital and will undergo a minor health screening and have their temperature taken. The vendor will be given a badge to wear and escorted to the area by the department manager.
Proactive prevention and planning are essential to containing the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). As with any infectious disease, proper hygiene techniques will help reduce the spread of a virus. The following prevention guidelines are suggested for use at home, work, school and community locations:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – dry hands with a clean towel or air dry hands.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing – immediately deposit tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with those with illness, and stay home when you are sick to treat symptoms. Seek prompt medical attention if your illness worsens (e.g., fever, cough and difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
- Keep hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) and tissues on hand.
- Keep household cleaning spray or wipes readily available.
- Clean "high-touch" surfaces daily. These include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
- Do not share personal items such as water bottles.
- The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings (masks) in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This recommendation is based on studies that show a significant proportion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and can transmit the virus to others in close proximity, through speaking, coughing, sneezing or other means.
- Be prepared to cancel non-essential travel plans.
- Get a flu shot this season if you have not already. Although it will not protect against COVID-19, it can provide greater immunity against influenza or lessen symptoms if contracted, which may reduce the strain on healthcare facilities.
What is the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The CDC reports the virus is mainly thought to be spread between people who are in close contact (within 6 feet) with one another or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets can land in the mouth or nose of nearby people or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
COVID-19 affects people in different ways. Those infected report a wide range of symptoms – from mild symptoms to severe illness.
Symptoms that may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
This list does not show all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Individuals at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include those with pre-existing pulmonary disease, those with compromised immune systems, infants and the elderly. The vast majority of patients will have mild/moderate symptoms and do not require hospitalization.
What should I do if I am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19?
If you suspect you are sick with COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and help prevent the disease from spreading to other people:
- Stay home except to get medical care, and separate yourself from other people in your home.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Clean your hands often.
- Contact your primary care provider if your illness is worsening. Tell your provider that you have coronavirus-like symptoms, so they can take steps to keep other people from getting infected.
- You may visit the LMH drive-through clinic, located at 131 McMillen Drive in Newark, where a clinician will determine if testing is appropriate.
How can I prevent or treat COVID-19?
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure to the virus. However, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, such as:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
- Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you sneeze or cough
- Wash your hands often with soap and water (20 seconds or longer) or use alcohol hand rub if no soap and water are available
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
- Clean and disinfect "high-touch" surfaces often
Can someone who has been quarantined for COVID-19 spread the illness to others?
Quarantine means separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have not developed symptoms from others who have not been exposed, in order to prevent the possible spread of that disease. Quarantine is usually established for the incubation period of the communicable disease, which is the span of time during which people have developed illness after exposure. For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14 days from the last date of exposure, because 14 days is the longest incubation period seen for similar coronaviruses. Someone who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine is not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others because they have not developed illness during the incubation period.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the following websites: