SC Department of Mental Health employee tests positive for coronavirus
An employee at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health tested positive for the coronavirus, department spokeswoman Tracy LaPointe said.
The employee had been on leave for more than two weeks before seeing symptoms and ultimately testing positive, LaPointe said.
Coronavirus symptoms appear between two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“...(B)ased on the timeline it is believed to be highly unlikely that others in the office were exposed to the virus,” LaPointe said.
Though the employee had not been at the workplace for weeks, Department of Mental Health officials thoroughly cleaned that person’s workspace, LaPointe said. No other employees have tested positive.
The S.C. Department of Mental Health runs three inpatient mental health facilities, three veterans’ nursing homes, a general nursing home, a treatment program for sexually violent predators and several other outpatient clinics. In all, the department is responsible for caring for more than 1,400 people in inpatient facilities.
In response to the spread of COVID-19, the Department of Mental Health restricted visitation at their inpatient facilities starting March 13, according to the department’s website. They also restricted patients’ and residents’ movement outside of the facilities and are not allowing volunteers to come to the facilities.
Visits were suspended at long term nursing facilities starting March 17, according to the department’s website.The only exception is for end of life visits.
Outpatient facilities run by the department are using phone and telehealth visits, though their centers are remaining open for emergencies and for scheduled injections, according to the department’s website.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
