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!
READ MORE
#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.
How you can help stop the spread of coronavirus:
- Take a photo or video of yourself wearing a face covering or mask.
- Explain why you wear it.
- Post it on social media with #COVIDendswithme
-
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
has instituted 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
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
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.
BRUNSWICK CAMPUS
2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick
CAMDEN CAMPUS
2000 Dan Proctor Drive, St. Marys
We are tracking where our donations come from and would like to send email
updates to sewers as necessary, so if you will, please include with your donation:
- Name(s) of the sewers
- Name of the group or business who sewed/donated the masks
- 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 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, please call our COVID Screening
Hotline, 912-466-7222, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. We will work with
you to determine if you need to be tested and provide you with additional
instructions.
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.
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.
Related Documents
Lo que necesita saber sobre: ENFERMEDAD DEL CORONAVIRUS 2019
Cómo evitar la propagación de la: ENFERMEDAD DE CORONAVIRUS 2019
COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Guía provisional para trabajadores agrícolas estacionales
y sus empleadores en Georgia
26 de mayo de 2020
Healthy Partners Articles
Standing Steadfast Through the Storm
Healthy Partners, Fall 2020
Steering a ship through a life-threatening storm takes courage and determination.
Fortunately, the crew at Southeast Georgia Health System’s Glynn
Immediate Care Center has an experienced captain at the helm. Daniel Miller,
M.D., has practiced medicine at the clinic for 20 years and has served
as its medical director for 12. When the coronavirus arrived on American
shores in early 2020, Dr. Miller and his team sprang into action.
Read More
Everyday Heroes
Healthy Partners, Fall 2020
Many heroes emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline health care
workers commanded much praise, but other heroes were relatively unnoticed.
By working behind the scenes 24/7, 365 days a year, the Southeast Georgia
Health System Laboratory Services team provides an essential, lifesaving
service. “We’re involved in the care of almost every hospital
patient,” says Patrick Godbey, M.D., FCAP, laboratory director and
chief, Department of Pathology, on the Southeast Georgia Health System
Brunswick Campus. “The vast majority of medical decisions and diagnoses
are made in our lab."
Read More
Senior Care Center Visitor Cottages Keep Families Connected
Healthy Partners, Fall 2020
In difficult times, necessity becomes the mother of invention. The Southeast
Georgia Health System Senior Care Centers in Brunswick and St. Marys have
taken that to heart. Outside of each facility stands a collection of diminutive
white cottages, each featuring a covered porch. To prevent the spread
of COVID-19, a protective plexiglass shield divides the climate-controlled
sitting area but stops short of the ceiling.
Read More