MCLEANSBORO (WSIL) -- Memorial Hospital in Hamilton County is taking precautions to avoid COVID-19 exposure in its emergency department.
"The hospital, the health department, emergency management, police, sheriff, and cooperation of all those entities have been working in preparation for our response to the COVID-19, " explains Hamilton County EMA Director John Taylor.
Taylor says setting up a triage tent is a natural part of responding to disasters.
"They may not necessarily receive treatment inside that tent. It's more of a screening location, that way we're not just allowing people to freely enter the hospital and cause more contamination."
Hamilton County EMA requested the tent from MABAS Division 45, a process that runs through Springfield.
"Almost within an hour or two we had the request granted, and then we started working the logistics of getting that brought here this morning."
Bethany Reyling, hospital public information officer, says they are taking every precaution possible to avoid COVID-19 exposure inside their emergency department.
"It's a safety precaution for not only our patients but for our staff as well."
To add to those precautions, Hamilton Memorial is no longer allowing outside visitors.
For people seeking treatment who exhibit common symptoms associated with COVID-19, the hospital says -- call first.
"If you feel like you are sick or you need to be seen, call our emergency room first, and then they will direct you on what to do."
What no one knows right now is how long this is all going to last.
"We don't know when this disease is going to stop spreading, so, we're going to take precaution measures as long as necessary at the hospital."
With no clear end in sight, Taylor says those efforts to keep patients safe is commendable.
"I think all of your organizations, hospital, police, fire, ambulance, everybody is doing as much as they can, and that should really make a community proud of what they have."
