COVID-19

An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and has spread throughout China and to other countries and territories, including the United States. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center has been diligently preparing for the time when this virus would come to the North Country. As CHMC prepares to meet the needs of our community, we want you to take the necessary precautions to limit your exposure to the virus. We encourage you and your family members to:

Clean hands at the door and at regular intervals
Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their face and cover coughs and sneezes
Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and handrails regularly
Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting the air conditioning

Households with sick family members should:

Give sick members their own room if possible, and keep the door closed
Have only one family member care for them to limit exposure
Ensure all utensils and surfaces are cleaned regularly

Consider providing additional protections or more intensive care for household members over 65 years old or with underlying conditions. Significant underlying conditions include heart, lung, kidney disease; diabetes; and conditions that suppress the immune system.

Have healthy people in the household conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to the person with underlying conditions. For example, wash hands frequently before interacting with the person, such as by feeding or caring for the person
If possible, provide a protected space for vulnerable household members

Stay home if…

You are feeling sick
You have a sick family member in the home

You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms AND have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or live in or have recently traveled from an area with the ongoing spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

To make an appointment or speak with your CHMC provider please call 315.393.3600 and ask to be directed to their practice. If your need is more urgent, please call our Convenient Care Clinic at 315.393.1715 to make an appointment.

For more information regarding the virus and the most up-to-date information the Center for Disease Control is frequently posting to their website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/share-facts.html. The New York State Department of Health is operating a 24-hour hotline at 1-888-364-3065, where you can speak directly to healthcare professionals with your questions about COVID-19. Local updates can be found on the St. Lawrence Public Health Department’s

website: https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth/.

In order to ensure the safety of patients, their families, and visitors, CHMC is enacting screening protocols for all those that enter CHMC’s hospital, clinic, and other facilities. There are protocols and plans in place to reduce the risks of spreading this infection and CHMC is working in coordination with state and local officials to safeguard our patients, staff, and visitors from COVID-19. We ask those visiting our facilities to be patient with the additional questions asked. They are a necessary part of our screening process. The screening questions will help clinicians ensure that those presented symptoms are treated with the appropriate cautions to halt the spread of the virus.

View CHMC's latest press release regarding COVID-19 here.