CINCINNATI — Multiple employees at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital have been diagnosed with COVID-19, spokeswoman Libby Coulton confirmed Thursday.
Cincinnati Children’s announced in a press release Thursday the decision to close the Anderson Urgent Care location starting April 2. The closure is expected to last through the month of April.
According to the release, a small number of lab and radiology services will be available from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
The decision to close the Anderson Urgent Care location was "made by carefully balancing local care needs and important goals related to staff health and exposure," the release said. The conservation of personal protection equipment (PPE) for the medical staff was also factored in the decision.
The hospital system declined to clarify how many employees had been diagnosed, when the diagnoses were confirmed or whether the employees had patient-facing roles.
“At Cincinnati Children’s, the safety of our employees, patients and families is our top priority,” Coulton wrote in a statement. “We can confirm that employees at Cincinnati Children’s have tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with CDC and public health guidance, following the diagnosis of an employee, we conduct a contact investigation. Those identified as potentially at risk are notified and given guidance on next steps.”
Children’s began screening parents, workers and visitors for signs of COVID-19 on March 24. People who did not pass the screening, which consisted of a temperature check and two questions about recent symptoms, were not allowed into patient-care areas, according to spokeswoman Shannon Kettler.
According to Cincinnati Children's, if a child needs urgent care, the Liberty Campus, Burnet Campus and Green Township urgent care locations are open during their regular hours each day.
Emergency departments at Children's Burnet Campus and Liberty Campus are always open.
The release also included a link to a new online resourcemeant to help families adapt to COVID-19 disruptions.
