Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital officials confirmed Friday morning the hospital has received its first result indicating a patient tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
“We had a positive COVID-19 test come back,” Henry Mayo spokesman Patrick Moody confirmed Friday. “We do not have a COVID-19 patient at the hospital.
“We only had one confirmed case,” Moody said, adding that he didn’t have the exact time, but he confirmed it was within the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning. He could not reveal any more information due to patient-privacy laws.
He referred additional inquiries regarding the coronavirus to the county’s Department of Public Health.
Kaiser Permanente declined to comment Thursday on whether any positive tests had been reported.
“If a patient qualifies for testing and is tested and doesn’t have any symptoms that would require hospitalization then they will be sent home to self-quarantine,” Moody said, referring to procedures on the hospital’s website:
How is Henry Mayo Prepared To Handle the Coronavirus?
We have procedures in place to screen patients and visitors who show signs or symptoms of the Coronavirus and who have a history that would indicate they are at risk of the disease.
If such a person is identified, they would be isolated and evaluated for their eligibility for a Coronavirus test. If they are not deemed eligible to be tested then the person will be sent home with appropriate instructions.
If they are deemed eligible to be tested then a test will be administered. If the person tested is not seriously ill, then he or she would be sent home and asked to self-quarantine until the test results come in.
If the test results come back positive and the person is still relatively healthy, then that person would be asked to continue to self-quarantine. (Please note that it generally takes two to six days to get COVID-19 test results.) If the person is not well enough to go home and requires admission to the hospital, then we will treat them appropriately in an isolated room.
For questions about our infection control procedures, call 661.200.1302, or send an e-mail to [email protected].
For current information about the coronavirus, click here.
If you suspect that you might have the coronavirus, click here.
To contact the Los Angeles Department of Health, call 213.240.7941.
From the LA County Department of Public Health:
If you think you have coronavirus
Can I get tested for the novel coronavirus?
If you are sick, your health care provider may decide to do a test for coronavirus. Only health care providers can test for COVID-19. Since most people will get better with rest and time, there is no need to see a doctor if you have mild symptoms. If you are sick and think you should be tested for COVID-19, call your doctor before going in for care.
How is novel coronavirus treated?
There is no specific treatment for illness caused by the novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated. There is currently no vaccine to prevent novel coronavirus. Be aware of scam products for sale that make false claims to prevent or treat this new infection.
Public Health recommends the following to protect themselves and others from respiratory illnesses:
- Avoid non-essential travel, public gatherings, and places where large groups of people congregate.
- Event organizers postpone or cancel non-essential gatherings of 250 or more until at least the end of March.
- Smaller events proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person.
- Limiting the gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (people older than 65, pregnant women, and those with chronic illness) to no more than 10 people.
- This guidance does not apply to activities such as attendance at regular school classes, work, or essential services.
- Certain activities are essential to the functioning of our state and must continue. Hence, this does not apply to essential public transportation, airport travel, or shopping at a store or mall.
- This does not apply to congregate living situations, including dormitories and homeless encampments.
- If you are mildly sick with a fever, stay home except to get medical care.
- Individuals who are elderly, have underlying health conditions or pregnant should consider contacting their providers earlier when they are sick.
- Follow all social distancing recommendations issued by Public Health.
