NORWAY — The Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention announced Sunday the number of COVID-19 cases in the state had reached 89, including a patient who tested positive at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway

Fair Share Co-op of Norway announced on its Facebook page that one person who had been in the store multiple times over many days has tested positive. The shop, which sells locally produced foods, will be closed until further notice.

Messages on Facebook from customers and fans of the co-op have been positive and appreciative of the information. Members of the store’s management staff posted they have been told the person is doing well and recuperating at home. So far, the first case seen in Oxford Hills seems to be one that will end with recovery.

Stephens Memorial Hospital is girding itself for the potential fallout of community transmission, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gregory Hardy. During an interview Sunday, he and Western Maine Health President Andrea Patstone outlined the measures SMH has taken to handle potential COVID-19 cases.

Related Updated coverage of the coronavirus outbreak is free to read

“SMH has set up two separate avenues for people to receive their medical care,” Hardy said. “There is a care team dedicated specifically to COVID-19 including the administering of tests, and one that will continue to focus on regular patient care.”

“We are segregating routine patient care from those seeking treatment for COVID-19,” explained Patstone. “SMH has suspended non-essential and elective procedures but we still have patients who need to be seen. We’ve established the Medd Medical Building for that purpose.

“For those who have unrelated ailments or need a post-operation check-up, or if children need immunizations, they can be seen there. But they need to call their regular doctor’s office to make arrangements.”

Patstone emphasizes that this process is designed to accommodate Western Maine Health patients by appointment only. Care at the Medd building is not set up for walk-ins.

“If someone is not already an established patient and they are in need of emergent care, the emergency department at SMH will be ready to receive and care for them,” she said.

The hospital will utilize this policy for the foreseeable future but is prepared to change course as conditions warrant.

SMH currently has five rooms equipped with negative pressure for COVID-19 patients who may experience respiratory distress and require additional procedures. The hospital, which has two inpatient wings, is in the process of setting up rooms to allow for multiple COVID-19 patients.

Hardy said SMH has been given waivers to allow them to admit more patients past their 25-bed capacity if it becomes necessary. But while they are preparing for any possible scenario he acknowledges that they are operating in a fluid situation and a plan for today may be different by tomorrow.

As with government leaders and health officials across the country, Hardy warns that it is imperative to follow the guidelines set by the CDC.

“Our top priority through this is to make sure we are able to provide care for our individual patients, their families and the Oxford Hills community,” Hardy said. “Some people, particularly younger, healthy people, are not heeding the call for social distancing.

“And we are receiving new test guidelines that will affect the care those young people can expect. Those over the age of 60 — especially if they are experiencing symptoms of the virus, and people who are living with other illnesses or underlying health conditions are the priority to test at this point.”

Hardy said anyone who is not in one of these two health categories should take the following steps if they believe they have been exposed to or contracted the virus.

“If someone has any question about the coronavirus, they should call their primary care physician for guidance,” Hardy said. “And they should self-quarantine at home unless their doctor directs them to go receive medical care elsewhere.”

Patstone said that while administrators hope for the best, the strategy for containing the spread of the coronavirus relies on the public’s heeding calls for social distancing to make it possible for health care providers not to be overwhelmed by a rapid spread. She said the situation needs to be taken seriously in order to be effectively managed.

“We have seen direct evidence and been given insight to the disasters that some countries, and states, have experienced,” Patstone said. “Some were surprised and ill-prepared to take immediate measures.

“Some did not initially take safety measures seriously. There can be no doubt that coronavirus has had devastating results in some areas. Everyone needs to do their part.”

Stephens Memorial Hospital initiated “incident command” in response to the pandemic. The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) team meets twice a day and as necessary to triage critical needs and assign tasks to respond to the situation.

“We have a strong team at Western Maine Health,” Patstone said. “Training and preparations for situations like this have been ongoing for many years. Our team is rising to the occasion, and are committed to being our best when we are needed the most.”

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