NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Health officials at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) posted to social media Monday that the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers were at full capacity, but a few hours later, they issued a clarification.
Spokesperson Ridgely Ingersoll said the Emergency Department and Urgent Care facilities are still accepting new patients and are not turning sick patients away.
The original social media message, posted around 11:20 a.m. has since been deleted and a new one was posted at 2:35 p.m. Monday.
He said health officials are asking parents to seek COVID-19 testing elsewhere for children with mild or no symptoms.
“If you don’t have any COVID exposures or symptoms, there is no need for testing,” officials added.
Virginians who have not been fully vaccinated, or are eligible for booster doses, can visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (877) 829-4682 to find nearby vaccination clinics.
Those seeking to find or schedule a testing appointment can visit vase.vdh.virginia.gov/testingappointment.
Just days prior, CHKD implemented a new visitor policy after reporting the highest amount of coronavirus cases recorded on any one day during the pandemic.
On Dec. 30, 2021, CHKD recorded 310 positive test results for patients in their entire health system. At that time, 12 children were hospitalized with the virus, short of the record 20 single-day hospitalizations recorded in September.
The hospital is currently limiting visitation to two designated visitors for the duration of each inpatient stay. The visitors must be parents or caregivers of the patient, and no siblings are allowed. Hospitalized patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19 can have one designated visitor at their bedside during admission. That person must be a parent, guardian or caregiver.
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