Today's top tip:

Check out these social distancing do's and don'ts from from Sweetwater311.org.

COVID-19 Cases:

Wyoming COVID-19 cases: 197

Sweetwater County COVID-19 cases:5 positive

MHSC COVID-19 specimen collection to date: As of April 2, 2020

Number of Positive COVID-19 tests: 4 Positive

Number of Negative COVID-19 tests: 230

Pending COVID-19 tests: 65

Testing is still limited despite our best efforts. Results can be slow as a result of a nationwide backlogLatest Sweetwater County COVID-19 Situation Report

Important updates

Outpatient lab services: Beginning Monday, April 5, the hospital's outpatient lab will be housed in the MHSC Foundation offices. There is no need to come directly into the hospital. The new location has a separate entrance between the hospital’s main door and the Specialty Clinics. It offers easy access and has ample parking, including several handicapped accessible spaces.

The laboratory will continue to operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends. It will be staffed to meet all of your needs, including full admission services. The same services you’ve received in the past will be offered, such as blood draws and collections for other medical laboratory tests.

Nurse Triage Line: If you have a temperature of 100 or greater or a cough, call your provider or Sweetwater Memorial’s Nurse Triage Line at 307-522-8523. If you have signs of a serious health issue, go to the Emergency Room or dial 911.

Drive-thru COVID-19 Specimen Collection Site: Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 3000 College Drive. For information, call 307-448-7560. Someone in our Medical Laboratory will explain what is being offered. An order from a provider is required.

Sweetwater Walk-In at 3000 College Drive is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The walk-in clinic is for health issues requiring urgent medical attention including, but not limited to, falls, urinary tract infections, congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbations, diabetic issues, and dehydration.

Clinic waiting rooms: If you have a fever of 100 or greater, a cough, and/or shortness of breath, please do not enter a clinic, even if you have an appointment. If the appointment is with the Family & Occupational Medicine Clinics at 3000 College Drive, please return to your car and call the clinic at 307-212-7708 to discuss your symptoms.

The Emergency Room at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County remains open with healthcare professionals to treat your serious health concerns. MHSC does have other healthcare options available – Sweetwater Walk-In, Tele-Health options with Primary Care providers, and the Drive-thru specimen collection site. However, the staff at the Emergency Room wants to make sure the community knows the ER staff is available to help you with your emergent healthcare needs 24 hours a day.

What to do if you are sick with COVID-19, click here. Be aware that all patients not hospitalized who are tested for COVID-19 are required to self isolate in their homes until negative tests are obtained, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

Donations accepted

PPE needed: Packages and boxes of N95 masks, Level 2 and Level 3 surgical masks, impervious isolation gowns, packets of alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer must be in unused, unopened bottles.

For more information on how to donate PPE, contact the Sweetwater Memorial Materials Management Department at 307-352-8487.

Cloth masks/gowns: Many in the community are sewing masks and gowns for Sweetwater Memorial providers to use in a worst-case scenario. The hospital is accepting these donations, including long-sleeved, washable gowns.

Medical institutions including Stanford Medicine report if surgical masks and other filters are not available, masks made of cotton or a cotton blend may be more effective than other types of material, particularly if used with some type of face shield.

For information on how to donate, contact Janae Gale, Community Outreach and Volunteer Services Director, at 307-352-8418.

Childcare: With school no longer in session and daycares closed, Sweetwater Memorial staff is in need of childcare options. Those willing to watch the children of medical and necessary personnel can call Amber Fisk, Sweetwater Memorial Human Resources Director, at 307-352-8160.

Meals & snacks: MHSC can only accept home-baked goodies if they are individually wrapped or individually packaged. Meal donations must arrive from restaurants in pre-wrapped, individual servings, such as individually wrapped sandwiches, boxed individual pizzas and individually bagged takeout meals. Store-bought prepackaged treats such as chips, breakfast bars and other snacks also are welcome.

For details or to arrange a donation, contact Janae Gale at 307-352-8418.

Restrictions & Protocols now
in effect at Sweetwater Memorial

As of Tuesday, March 24, hospital inpatient areas are no longer open to visitors. Exceptions to this include pediatric patients, obstetrics patients and those in end-of-life care. For more information, see Visitation Rules below.

As of Friday, March 20, at 6 p.m. the doors to the hospital's main lobby will be closed. We ask that visitors use the Emergency Room entrance. For visitor restrictions, please scroll down.

Visitation rules:

• Hospital inpatient areas are no longer open to visitors. Exceptions to this include pediatric patients, obstetrics patients and those in end-of-life care.
• For those exceptions, the hospital continues to allow only one visitor per adult patient. Visitors for a pediatrics patient must be a parent or guardian. One adult visitor is allowed per obstetrics patient.
• The visitor should be the same visitor for the entire time the patient is in the OB unit or under pediatric care. No visitors younger than 18, unless the visitor younger than 18 is a parent or partner of the patient.
• The Specialty Clinics of Sweetwater Memorial continue to see patients by appointment at their offices at 1200 College Drive and 3000 College Drive. One person is allowed to accompany each patient to an office appointment in the clinics, unless an assistant is required to help the patient to the office.
• Everyone entering the hospital and its clinics will be asked to submit to a quick temperature scan. Any visitor who is coughing, has a temperature of 100 or above, or shows other signs of illness will be given information on how to follow up with your symptoms. Be aware hospital staff may ask any visitor these questions: Have you had a fever or do you feel sick? Have you traveled within the last 14 days? Have you been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

General restrictions:

• If you have a temperature of 100 or greater, a cough or shortness of breath, DO NOT go directly to a doctor’s appointment. At Family & Occupational Medicine Clinics (3000 College Drive), you can call 307-212-7708 from home or from your car to discuss your symptoms before entering the building.
• If you have a temperature of 100 or greater or a cough. Call your provider or Sweetwater Memorial’s Nurse Triage Line at 307-522-8523. Please do not go directly to the Emergency Room or your provider unless you believe symptoms are signs of a serious or life-threatening health issue.
• Everyone must use alcohol sanitizer before entering and upon leaving any Sweetwater Memorial facility, any patient room, and any exam room. Anyone entering the hospital or its clinics will have their temperature taken.
• If you are sick with COVID-19 and sheltering at home, click here. Be aware that all patients not hospitalized who are tested for COVID-19 are required to self-isolate in their homes until negative tests are obtained, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.
• The Sweetwater Memorial Café is closed to the public until further notice.

In the meantime:

• Practice social distancing
• Stay home if you are sick
• Look for more community updates at @MHSChealthcare on Facebook and sweetwater311.org

Priority patients

As of March 11, 2020, Individuals who will receive priority include:

• Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control.

• Other symptomatic individuals such as adults 65 and older and individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).

• Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of their symptom onset.