COVID-19 Community Update | August 18, 2020
There are no changes in the local COVID case numbers to report at this time. The total number of positive cases in the tri-town area remains at 28.
All COVID positive patients are currently being treated as out-patients and have not yet required hospitalization. Millinocket Regional Hospital is well-prepared to admit patients as needed and maintains adequate staffing and PPE stock.
Tests continue to be administered by the dedicated staff at MRH Walk-In Care, who’ve swabbed many more patients today. Results for today’s tests, as well as those administered on August 17th, can be expected late tomorrow afternoon; at the earliest. These results will help us gauge the extent of the outbreak and guide decision making.
We remain closed to elective surgery and any appointments, procedures, or imaging exams that can safely be postponed. We are however, encouraging patients with acute medical needs and necessary follow-up care to keep their appointments. Delays for these patients can result in catastrophic outcomes.
The current operating plan will be in play through Sunday August 23rd at a minimum. It is important that we know the full extent of the outbreak and give the CDC time to complete all necessary contact tracing and isolation orders. Once we have additional data, we will make the decision for the week of August 24th.
Dr. Robert Peterson
Chief Executive Officer
Please do all you can to help prevent further spread. Wearing masks, social distancing and good hand hygiene are more important than ever. If you have any signs of illness, please isolate yourself and call the COVID hotline: (207) 447-4190 for further instructions. These simple precautions will help protect us all.
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About Millinocket Regional Hospital
Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) is a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital nestled at the base of Baxter State Park that provides vital healthcare services to those who live, work and play in the Katahdin Region. Beyond the friendly staff and award-winning patient care, MRH provides an impressive range of specialty and general services; with a recent expansion resulting in the addition of eight new specialties and a Walk-In Care facility. In 2018, MRH was awarded the Press Ganey ‘Guardian of Excellence Award’ for exceptional patient experience; a nationally-recognized symbol of achievement for hospitals who consistently perform within the top 5%. Providing jobs to approximately 250 people, MRH is the largest employer in the Katahdin Region and a crucial economic driver within its community. For more information, please visit www.mrhme.org or www.facebook.com/MillinocketRegionalHospital