Covid-19 Update from Singing River Hospital

Join Zoom Meeting

Singing River Health System is closely monitoring developments of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it makes its way into our state, working in concert with the Centers for Disease Control and the Mississippi State Department of Health.​ Singing River Health System has tested several patients for COVID-19, who have met the criteria required to be tested. Fortunately, all results thus far are negative.

We hope that continues to be the case with future tests, however, we are prepared in the event we do have a positive test. We regularly and routinely handle patients with infectious diseases, with strong infection control protocols in place to handle both common and rare infectious diseases like Influenza and Coronavirus.

We are grateful for our extensively trained medical staff, including Dr. Okechukwu Ekenna, MD, MPH, D(ABMM), FACP, a Board Certified Infectious Disease Specialist and author of Cases in Clinical Infectious Disease Practice. He along with our entire clinical and management team is leading internal task force meetings to discuss supplies, logistics, emergency management processes, and protocols, and other necessary measures to ensure the health of our patients, visitors, students, and employees.

“Our multidisciplinary clinical team at Singing River Health System is prepared for this situation and is working together closely to ensure we are properly caring for any impacted individuals, protecting our staff, hospital patients, and guests.” 
— Randy Roth, Chief Medical Officer

We encourage the community to seek factual information about COVID-19 and not fall to rumors or fiction. Coronavirus is spread from those who are actively sick with it: someone with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. It is most commonly spread from an infected person who sneezes or coughs and their respiratory droplets are transferred into another person’s mouth or nasal passages. Those droplets are easily transferred when someone is within six feet of the infected person, or sometimes when they touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch their own mouth or nose.

Recent updates and FAQ’s can be found on our Coronavirus webpage.

Our elderly population with other existing medical vulnerabilities such as chronic heart conditions, asthma, or a weakened immune system are at the greatest risk for severe disease if infected with COVID-19. It is critical that we work together to protect those susceptible seniors from infection.

In addition to the normal patient protocols, visitors to the Health System are soon going to be asked if they have:

In order to make the screenings more feasible, and due to the national spread of the virus, we are working to consolidate and limit entry points to the hospitals in the near future. 

We must not forget that we are still in flu season which poses a high risk to the vulnerable people in our community. It is critical for everyone to do their part in preventing the spread of all respiratory viruses (Coronavirus or Influenza) by following a few simple measures:

The Coronavirus starts with a fever, followed by a dry cough and then a week after that, shortness of breath. If you meet the criteria and have concerns please call us at 228-809-5044.

“As one of the predominant Health Systems in the state, we expect and are prepared for a case of COVID-19. Our team is properly trained and equipped to handle it appropriately and without any fear. Our infection prevention protocols are robust, as evidenced by our excellent Patient Safety Ratings. Our mission to improve health and save lives will not waiver.”

— Lee Bond, CEO