Edenhope District Memorial Hospital chief executive Andrew Saunders has confirmed two staff members have been in contact with a person that has tested positive to coronavirus.
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"They are currently self-quarantining as per the updated Department of Health and Human Services guidelines," he said.
"They have not been tested themselves. We do not have any known confirmed COVID-19 cases in Edenhope.
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"There are some specific guidelines around coronavirus testing in that you have to have an epidemiological and a clinical indicator in order to test. Neither staff member had either of them. The exposure they would have had was very minimal and low risk.
"We have full testing facilities here, so we can swab and send it off to pathology."
Mr Saunders said the staff members had been in quarantine since Wednesday, having likely been exposed the Saturday prior. He suggested the staff members may have been exposed in South Australia, but did not go into details about how and when the exposure took place.
He said the town appreciated just how serious the pandemic was.
"There is less activity around town, everyone has stopped going out, and it's really important that we keep pushing the message if you don't need to be doing something, stay home. Avoid contact with others," he said.
"The hospital is now in lockdown, which basically means we let people in instead of anyone having free access. The front entrance is our main point of entry, where people press the intercom button to talk to nurses who then come down and triage.
Mr Saunders said the front reception will continue to be staffed but askedconsumers to phone ahead before presenting, and to pay all accounts using electronic means.
"Allied and Community Health is now closed until further notice, staff will be conducting welfare checks with consumers," he said.
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