COVID UPDATE

Van Buren County Hospital and Van Buren Public Health, ask that everyone be diligent about social distancing.

The Centers for Disease Control’s definition of close contact exposure is: spending more than 15 minutes within 6’ of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19. VBCH and Public Health are asking that community members who have been exposed, but are not showing symptoms, to quarantine for 14 days from exposure. If symptoms arise during this time, take appropriate steps to care for yourself and avoid spreading the virus to others. Call your family provider and quarantine until you meet all three of these conditions:

• Your symptoms have improved, and
• It has been 24 hours (1 full day) since you've had a fever (without taking fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen) , and
• At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

Some people, such as those with health conditions that lower their ability to fight disease (immunity), may need to stay in isolation longer, so follow your doctor's advice.

VBCH understands the concern people have when family members have been exposed, but the antigen rapid test availability is beginning to decline and VBCH must use these test for surgery patients. VBCH patients will continue to be tested based on symptoms and criteria. It will be the providers’ decision as to which test is to be used; therefore, some test may be sent to the State Hygienic Lab, which may take a few days to get test results.

False-negative test results could happen depending on the timing and quality of test sample. Therefore, if you test negative, you could still become infected in the future, so it’s important to follow guidelines for social distancing, face mask use and hand-washing to avoid potential spread.

Van Buren County Hospital and Public Health will continue to keep the community informed, with as much information as we can. We are still in this together!