(Greenfield) Positive COVID-19 cases have recently increased in the area and the state, and Adair County Public Health encourages community members to help control the spread. As we head into the holidays, please review these guidelines below. If you have questions, please contact Adair County Public Health at publichealth@adaircountyhealthsystem.org or 641-743-6173.
HOSPITAL VISITOR GUIDELINES
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), ACHS will continue to restrict visitation.
- All ACHS visitors must stop at the registration desk to be checked in and screened.
- All visitors must wear a procedure mask or face shield throughout their visit, perform frequent hand hygiene, and maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet between individuals.
- Visitors must be 18 years or older, symptom free and not currently in quarantine for COVID.
- Visitors should go directly to a hospitalized patient’s room and leave directly from the patient’s room (do not enter other areas of the facility).
- Visitors should refrain from physical contact with the patient and touching items at the bedside due to the potential for transmission of the virus in either direction (patient to visitor or vice versa).
- ER patients will be allowed one visitor to accompany them after ER staff confirms it a good time to enter the room.
- However, if the ER patient has tested positive for COVID, clinical staff will need to assess the situation before allowing visitors into the patient care area.
- Hospitalized patients may have no more than 2 unique visitors for the duration of their stay.
- Additional visitors may be approved in special circumstances, such as end of life situations.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Get the vaccine or booster, mask, wash hands/use hand sanitizer, social distance, stay home when sick and avoid large gatherings. If you have symptoms, get tested. Options are listed below. If you test positive, isolate and quarantine according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
VACCINE AND BOOSTERS
To make an appointment to receive the COVID vaccine or booster, please call 641-743-6173. Appointments are typically scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to reduce waste.
- Individuals ages 5 and older are eligible for COVID vaccine.
- Everyone ages 18 and older who are fully vaccinated are now recommended to get the COVID booster (6 months after completing the Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). This is critical as vaccine immunity wanes in time.
- If you have been recently exposed or currently have COVID-19, you must wait until the isolation or quarantine period is over before you get vaccinated or receive a booster. Please consult with your primary care provider.
- Additionally, if you had COVID-19 and received an antibody infusion, you must wait 90 days before you get vaccinated or receive a booster. Please consult with your primary care provider.
TESTING
- Due to shortages in COVID testing supplies, only individuals with symptoms may be tested in Urgent Care at the ACHS Medical Clinic in Greenfield.
- Although Urgent Care is a walk-in clinic, please call 641-743-6189 before you arrive, so staff know you are coming in, have symptoms and need to receive a test.
- If you do not have symptoms, you will need a doctor’s order to be tested at ACHS.
- If you do not have symptoms but want or need to be tested for travel requirements, return to work/school following exposure or quarantine, etc., check with the organization for specific testing requirements.
- Free testing kits may be obtained at testiowa.com or Adair County Public Health (Test Iowa kits).
- Over-the-counter test kits may be purchased at pharmacies such as NuCara, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc. Adair County Public Health cannot provide work releases for over-the-counter rapid tests on which we cannot verify results.
