Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses named for the crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. These range from viruses that cause the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The latest coronavirus, beleived to have originated in China, is called the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our infectious disease team and critical care staff are well prepared to address the needs of COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus Cases Dashboard

Keep up to date by checking in daily on our Coronavirus Cases Dashboard, which highlights the number of positive inpatients at the Health System hospitals and positive cases in our coastal counties and for the state of Georgia.

Coronavirus Cases Dashboard

Frontline Heroes: We are so incredibly proud of our team members who have battled on the frontlines against COVID-19, putting their health at risk to help their patients and our community remain as healthy as possible. Check out some of their stories and learn about the people behind the medicine, fighting on the frontlines of this virus!
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#COVIDendswithme Mask Challenge

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our community, but as this disease strengthens, so does our determination. The more people who choose to wear a face mask today, the more freedoms we will all enjoy in the future. If everyone plays an active role in stopping the spread of this disease, we can be stronger than COVID-19.

1. Take a photo or video of yourself wearing a face covering or mask.
2. Explain why you wear it.
3. Post it on social media with #COVIDendswithme
4. Tag Southeast Georgia Health System: @SGHScares

Convalescent Plasma Donations

As coronavirus cases increase across the country, hospital demand for convalescent plasma has more than doubled. The American Red Cross now has an emergency shortage of this potentially lifesaving treatment. Those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 are urged to donate convalescent plasma to help patients still fighting the virus recover. Learn more and sign up to give at: RedCrossBlood.org/Plasma4Covid.

Protecting Our Patients & Visitors During COVID-19

Governor Kemp visited our Brunswick Campus during his “Wear a Mask” flyaround tour of Georgia. In addition to Gov. Kemp, Vice Admiral Jerome M. Adams, U.S. Surgeon General, and Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey spoke of the importance of following public health officials’ guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19. "If you want to watch the Georgia/Florida game this year, wear a mask,” says Vice Admiral Jerome M. Adams, U.S. Surgeon General. In other words, the choice we make today on whether or not to wear a mask and social distance will impact what we’re able to do, where we’re able to go, whether businesses will be open or closed in the upcoming months. It’s just common sense that we must reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Although we must remain vigilant against coronavirus, some illnesses and injuries simply can’t wait, and your overall health is something that shouldn’t be ignored. When you visit our hospitals and physician practices, you can rest assured that our team members are taking special precautions against the spread of coronavirus to keep all patients, visitors, physicians and team members safe. Learn about our COVID-19 safety measures.

Protecting Patients & Visitors

Coronavirus Updates at Southeast Georgia Health System

For updated information regarding Coronavirus at Southeast Georgia Health System, visit our News Center by clicking on the link below.

Coronavirus Updates

Universal Masking Policy

To further protect our patients and team members, the Health System is mandating the use of face coverings at all times when in public areas within all Health System facilities (ambulatory, acute and long-term care, physician practices). This policy is effective Monday, May 4th until further notice. If outpatients and visitors do not have a face covering, they will be provided one upon entry to any Health System building.

Learn more

How to Wear a Mask and Face Covering

Wearing a mask or face covering is our best defense against the spread of COVID-19, but for masks to be effective, they need to be worn properly. Neil E. Goodman, M.D., FAAP, FACPE, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Pediatrics and Chief, Department of Pediatrics - Brunswick Campus, demonstrates how to best wear a mask. Be sure to cover both your nose and your mouth!

Visitor Restrictions

In light of the national and state public health emergency related to COVID-19, Southeast Georgia Health System is taking extra precautions to try to minimize the spread of the illness in the community. The Health System will institute tighter visitation restrictions at all hospitals and physician practices, all support groups are suspended until further notice, and all Volunteer Services activities at Health System facilities are cancelled until further notice.

Visitor Restrictions

Screening Hotline: 912-466-7222

The Hotline is staffed with Health System nurses and advanced practice providers and will offer immediate access to Southeast Georgia Physician Associates health care providers, if needed. Patients who meet the criteria for an in-person coronavirus screening will be given an appointment and instructions for a virtual or in-person physical exam and, if warranted, instructions for testing.

Learn More

Donations

Food & Supplies

We appreciate the love and support our community has displayed toward the Health System during this COVID-19 outbreak! Anyone interested in making food donations to our team members, supply donations such as masks, gloves, PPE or monetary donations, please contact the Foundation at 912-466-3360.

Krista Robitz: krobitz@sghs.org
Tara Kirkland: tkirkla@sghs.org

Cloth Masks

We are accepting cloth mask donations from our community! Masks must be made of cotton and a tightly woven fabric. These will be laundered in high heat with bleach, so elastic straps or cloth ties are fine but no rubber bands or other improvised materials that cannot withstand the laundering process. There are many patterns available online, and we are not recommending any specific one at this time.

Please keep in mind that cotton shrinks when washed in high temperatures as you select your preferred pattern, so prewashing the fabric is recommended. The mask must be large enough to completely cover the nose and mouth.

CDC DIY cloth face-covering instructions

Screeners at the main entrances are accepting mask donations at both our campuses.

1. Name(s) of the sewers
2. Name of the group or business who sewed/donated the masks
3. Contact phone number or email

Questions? Contact Volunteer Services at 912-466-1071.

Kristin Doll: kdoll@sghs.org

COVID-19 Team Member Appreciation Video

Every year has its ups and downs, but 2020 began with a challenge that spanned the entire world. The COVID-19 pandemic has touch everyone, everywhere and all industries, but we are thankful for the many blessings that we still have and have been given. Thank you to our Community for your support, our team members for your dedication, and to everyone who rose above adversity to care for one another when it mattered most. We are friends and family taking care of friends and family.

The spread of coronavirus

Coronavirus is spread by close person-to-person contact. Close contact is defined as being within approximately six feet of another person so that droplets from a cough or sneeze can get into the mouth, nose or lungs. Our infectious disease team follows all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to handle incidents of coronavirus should they occur, as we do with all infectious diseases.

The latest guidance on COVID-19 is available through the GDPH at its toll-free number, 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584), its website dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.

Coronavirus symptoms

The CDC is making a test to determine whether patients have coronavirus. General testing by your health care provider will not identify the COVID-19 strain. Symptoms of coronavirus may appear in as few as two days or in as many as fourteen days after exposure.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.

It's very unlikely you will contract coronavirus if:

• you have not been in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus.
• you have not been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus in the last 14 days.

Updated Travel Information

When to call your health care provider?

If you are experiencing the above symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing) AND you have traveled to an affected area or have been in close contact with an individual that has traveled to an impacted area, and you think you need to be tested for COVID-19, please call your health care provider BEFORE visiting their office. Be sure to inform them of your symptoms and travel history or exposure to a person diagnosed with the virus.

If you do not have a health care provider, or if your symptoms are serious, please call the Glynn Immediate Care Center at 912-466-5800, the Brunswick Campus Emergency Care Center at 912-466-2001, or the Camden Campus Emergency Care Center at 912-576-6130. We will work with you to determine if you need to be tested and provide you with additional instructions.

You may also call our Screening Hotline, 912-466-7222, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

When to Call 911

How is Southeast Georgia Health System prepared for the coronavirus?

Our infectious disease team on both our Brunswick and Camden Campus hospitals have the PPE required to safely treat patients with Coronavirus– masks, eye protection, gowns, gloves – specifically designated to treat patients suspected of having an infectious virus. Our hospital team members who provide medical care are trained on guidelines for putting on and taking off PPE. Both our Brunswick and Camden Campus hospitals also have negative pressure rooms that are intended for patient isolation and are designed so air goes inside the room and not out when the door opens thereby containing the virus to that room.

What can you do to avoid the coronavirus?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

The following tips will help prevent the spread of coronavirus as well as other respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue or sneeze into your elbow. Throw the tissue in the garbage and make sure to clean your hands afterwards.
• Avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms of illness.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Stay informed

For further information regarding the coronavirus, its spread, prevention and travel information, please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Symptoms
• Prevention & Treatment
• Travel Information
• FAQs

Resources

• Coastal Health District provides answers to some of the frequently asked questions the Health District hears most often from the public, community partners and media.
• Georgia Department of Public Health has a map and chart showing all the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, and any associated deaths. This map/chart is updated daily at noon.
• Georgia Department of Public Health has also added more information and guidance for various populations and groups. If you scroll down the home page you'll see a bunch of links to dig deeper.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website continues to be our go-to for a lot of good information.
• The state has recently opened a telephone hotline for COVID-19 questions from the public. That public hotline number is 844-442-2681.
• World Health Organization is also a wonderful resource for up to date, accurate information.

Information courtesy of Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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