STRICT measures remain in force at Millicent and District Hospital to prevent visitors from the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus.
They have applied for the past four months and will continue for the time being.
The facility has 60 aged care beds, 25 acute beds and a staff of 140.
Hospital executive and nursing director Michelle de Wit said all visitors to the Millicent Hospital and co-located aged care facility, Sheoak Lodge Nursing Home, would continue to be screened and have their temperature tested on entry.
Ms de Wit said this was to protect the patients, aged care residents and staff.
“As part of our response to COVID-19, it is extremely important that we continue to adhere to these precautions and take every possible step to help stop the spread and not undo the good,” Ms de Wit said.
“We encourage members of the community to continue to be vigilant, follow health guidelines and get tested, no matter how mild symptoms are, as we know this has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 across our state,” Ms de Wit said.
“We are continuing to work hard to ensure the health and safety of our community and are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves.”
She said nursing staff would ask set questions of all visitors.
“Some of the screening questions are based around if a visitor is feeling unwell, if they have fever or symptoms of acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath), if they have returned from overseas in the past 14 days, if they have returned from interstate in the past 14 days and if they have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days.”
Kalangadoo resident Ian Perry recently made a one-off visit to the Millicent hospital.
He said the testing and screening regime at the front door only took a couple of minutes.
Mr Perry said he was not inconvenienced by the measures and he was fully supportive of them.
“They are there to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” Mr Perry said.
“We do not want to end up like Victoria.”
Nurse unit manager Fiona Oliver said there were still limits in place regarding time spent with in-patients and aged care residents.
Ms Oliver said the visiting hours were also currently restricted and children were not permitted.
She said all persons on the hospital site required screening, including staff and contractors and it took place around-theclock.
“During the after-hours period, the testing is done in the accident and emergency department,” Ms Oliver said.
Elsewhere at Millicent Hospital, the operating theatres for day surgery are fully functioning again after a nationwide ban on non-urgent elective surgery.
