At this point, every single person in the United States should know how important it is to practice social isolation and stay at home whenever possible. The goal of the practice is to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 and flatten the curve of new infections.
It’s imperative that everyone follows the CDC guidelines and stays at home, even if you aren’t symptomatic, you risk spreading the virus. If you are feeling ill, then you really need to stay in because the virus is highly contagious and one trip out could infect many vulnerable people like the elderly or those with preexisting health conditions. We present you with this cautionary tale.
One new father did not heed these warnings and allegedly ignored healthcare officials to visit his wife at the hospital.
Reporting from WROC in Rochester, New York alleges that a man with symptoms consistent with coronavirus infection lied about them in order to gain access to a maternity ward. He wanted access to visit his pregnant wife there.
Symptoms of coronavirus include sore throat, fever, fatigue, and coughing. After declining to disclose his symptoms, the man visited his wife at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
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Healthcare workers grew suspicious after his wife started exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus.
After giving birth, the new mom started experiencing symptoms and this stunned healthcare workers. They could not account for the spread of the virus to the patient until her husband finally admitted to feeling symptomatic before making the visit.
Chip Partner, a spokesperson for UR Medicine told the Observer-Dispatch: “The mother became symptomatic shortly after delivering. That’s when the significant other admitted his potential exposure and that he was feeling symptomatic.”
People reported that it’s unclear whether the man, his wife, or their newborn baby have tested positive for coronavirus.
Amid growing concerns over the spread of the virus, healthcare officials have tightened restrictions on visitation at area hospitals.
“In keeping with guidelines issued by the Monroe County Department of Public Health, UR Medicine hospitals have implemented a zero-visitation policy to further our efforts to protect patients and staff from the spread of COVID-19,” UR Medicine posted on their website.
Now, the hospitals are only allowing one support person for patients in obstetrics and pediatrics. This does not solve the problem nor would it have prevented the man from visiting his wife if these guidelines had been in place.
To ensure that a similar event doesn’t happen again, area hospitals are instituting stricter screening methods.
Mandatory screenings have been put in place for hospital staff, visitors, and patients to ensure that a similar situation doesn’t happen again. Before, people were only asked if they felt unwell and if they’d come in contact with a sick individual.
“It was purely an honor system before,” Partner said. “Now we’re adding the temperature check.”
Fortunately, these new steps will help keep more people safe. Temperatures will now be taken and evaluated every 12 hours.
While the effects of coronavirus hit the elderly the hardest, both newborns and pregnant women are at higher risk.
Recently in Illinois, the first coronavirus death of an infant was reported by health officials. As we reported, newborns and mothers who have recently given birth are more susceptible to complications of COVID-19.
Everyone needs to be taking steps to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. The first step, don’t lie! New mothers and their babies are at a higher risk of infection and then complications down the line. Play it safe. Love each other, but please take precautions.