COVID-19 Case Confirmed At PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center In Longview, WA -03/15/20

On March 15, 2020 PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center received confirmation of a positive test result for a case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in a patient who is being treated in isolation at PeaceHealth St. John.

This is the first confirmed case at a PeaceHealth St. John. All our caregivers and providers involved in this case followed recommended protocols to keep our patients, families and fellow caregivers safe.

PeaceHealth is prepared to meet the needs of our communities. We have already implemented a number of processes in all our hospitals and clinics to ensure the safety of our patients and caregivers, including screening protocols to identify patients who may be at risk for COVID-19 infection, and health department-recommended isolation processes and testing procedures. 

PeaceHealth is working closely with Public Health agencies. Anyone with questions about COVID-19 can find helpful information at peacehealth.org/coronavirus.

Visitor restrictions
We ask that visitors who are feeling ill or visitors under the age of 16 not visit our hospital, and we are limiting visitation in our high risk areas to a maximum of two visitors per patient.

What you should know about COVID-19:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms often include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
• Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.
• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Call ahead to a healthcare professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread.

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 193-bed acute care hospital and Level III trauma center located in Longview, Washington. Recognized nationally as a Top 100 Hospital, PeaceHealth St. John provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The region’s health care leader for more than 75 years, PeaceHealth St. John is one of ten medical centers in the PeaceHealth System.