When SARS caused a worldwide health panic 17 years ago, Richmond Hill’s Mackenzie Health became a global hot spot.

This time around, with concern growing around the spread of coronavirus 2019-nCoV, the local hospital isn’t taking any chances.

With an “abundance of caution,” Dr. Danny Chen, physician lead in infection prevention and control, says Mackenzie has implemented new protections against the spread of the mysterious illness that originated in Wuhan, China.

SARS left its mark on York Region, with 86 residents infected making it North America’s second-largest centre, after Toronto, for the outbreak.

The disease quickly spread through the GTA, via an infected woman returning to Toronto from Hong Kong, to Scarborough Grace hospital and then to Mackenzie Health.

The Richmond Hill hospital was closed for 20 days.

Lessons were learned from that first pandemic panic, and community hospitals say they’re making prevention a top priority.

Earlier this month, Chen said, Mackenzie Health let staff know a new threat was brewing; two weeks ago, the hospital began implementing additional screening.

Today, patients arriving at emergency department are automatically screened for contagious symptoms — coughing, shortness of breath, diarrhea, rash — and they are asked about their travel history.

Outpatients, too, are screened at automated kiosks that ask about respiratory health. If symptoms are present, they are prompted to wear masks available at the kiosk and to notify their health-care providers.

Patients exhibiting symptoms are advised to don masks or face shields if they are to be among other patients; and if they are in a room to be assessed by health-care workers, staff wear gloves, gowns, masks and face shields.

Patients are also asked about where they have travelled in the last 14 days. China is a red flag, and nurse and physicians then do a deeper dive into where they were in China and with whom they were in contact, Chen said.

Travel to the Arabian Peninsula is also a red flag because of the risk of ongoing transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Those deemed high risk with fever and respiratory symptoms are put in an airborne isolation room, a separate part of the hospital that is ventilated to the outside.

Unlike during the SARS outbreak, Mackenzie’s health screening is easier today, Chen says, thanks to an electronic medical records system with automated screening prompts.

Physicians, hospitals and other health-care facilities are expected to report any suspected or confirmed cases of novel coronavirus to York Region Public Health in order to prevent and control further transmission.

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Here’s what York Region’s other two local hospitals are doing to protect you:

Markham-Stouffville Hospital:

The hospital routinely screens patients for respiratory symptoms and recent travel and, since Jan. 3, has added screening for travel from Wuhan. It “has developed a streamlined process to care for patients whose screening may deem them to be high risk,” the hospital said in a statement.

Southlake Regional Health Care

All patients are screened for travel history and signs or symptoms of communicable illness.

“Patients with travel history to Wuhan, China, would trigger additional screening at admissions and anyone with signs/symptoms of acute respiratory illness will be placed on respiratory/contact precautions,” the hospital said in a statement.

STAY SAFE:

If you need to visit the hospital, here’s what you need to know:

You may notice increased signage advising you to be attentive to hand hygiene and “respiratory etiquette” (cough into sleeve or elbow, not hands).

When you arrive, if you have a cough, use a face mask.

If you are a visitor and not feeling well and don’t need to go to the hospital, stay home.

For more information on the signs and symptoms of coronavirus and what to do, visit the government of Canada’s website.