The superintendent of the State Hospital in Jamestown said her facility has actually seen a drop in both general admissions and in traffic to the behavioral health clinics.
Dr. Rosalie Etherington said that’s because of COVID-19.
"There are less people coming in, and less people calling and asking for services," Etherington said. "I think it's based on social distancing, and some of the fear. It's just reduced traffic overall."
Etherington said for the past four weeks, the Hospital has been screening all who are admitted and all staff at the hospital for COVID-19 daily.
"Everybody that walks through our doors gets screened for possible symptoms," Etherington said. "We take people's temperatures. We're making sure we don't have somebody who is inadvertantly symptomatic, but not aware that they are sick."
Etherington said that's a preventive measure, to stop the spread of the infection.
And Eterington said beginning Monday, the hospital opened a unit solely for quarantine for new admissions.
"If we do test somebody, and they are positive for COVID, we will simultaneously isolate that individual from all others, while we continue to provide behavioral healthcare," Etherington said.
Etherington said so far, there are no individuals, staff or patients, who have tested positive for COVID-19.
