NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – The Newport News Behavioral Health Center has several cases of coronavirus among patients and staff, 10 On Your Side confirmed with a spokesperson for the facility.
Larry M. Kirkland, MS, LMHC, said the center is working with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), which has provided five lab professionals to assist with testing on Friday.
He did not provide an exact number of active positive cases or say when they received the results, but implied there were multiple cases. He did say, though, that those who tested positive are doing well and that there are no symptomatic patients in the facility.
Patients who tested positive are in isolation or in isolation units. The staff members who tested positive are in quarantine at their homes.
Kirkland said the center follows guidance from the CDC. “We screen each patient daily and screen all staff upon entering the building; visitation has been suspended; staff are provided, and required to wear, personal protective equipment (PPE); and we have restructured patient programming to eliminate large-group congregation such as group free time and group meals with multiple units in the dining room.”
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