SCH implements changes as COVID cases continue to rise in Stephens County

Stephens County Hospital announced this week that it has seen a significant increase in patients testing positive for COVID-19 over the last two weeks.

According to Hospital Officials, the hospital has seen the most positive cases in the last 7 days than it’s seen in any week since the middle of January.

In order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the hospital is implementing the following precautions:

All individuals inside Stephens County Hospital must be masked at all times except when an individual is in a room or office alone.

The cafeteria will remain open to staff and visitors of patients; however, dining in the cafeteria will be limited to staff only and seating will be socially distanced. Patient’s visitors may purchase to-go orders from the cafeteria and must eat in patient rooms. The Lobby Grill will remain open; however, there will be no dining-in allowed in the Lobby Grill. Once your order is placed, you may wait for your order in the main lobby.

Visitors to Stephens County Hospital will also be restricted. For Inpatient Hospitalizations, patients are allowed one visitor per day during the hours of 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. No visitors under the age of 12-year-old. For Outpatient Services, including Physical Therapy, Lab, Radiology, and Surgery, patients are allowed one support person, no support person shall be under the age of 12. For Labor and Delivery, Patients are allowed two visitors at one time. For Emergency Department, patients are allowed one support person, no support person shall be under the age of 12. For Personal Care Homes, patients are allowed two visitors per day between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. For SCHPG Clinics, visitors are discouraged from coming to clinic appointments with patients or encouraged to wait in their car. A maximum of one visitor will be allowed.

According to the Department of Public Health, there have been 3,133 total cases of COVID-19 in Stephens County, since the beginning of the pandemic, an increase of 42 since WNEG’s report last week.

The death count for Stephens County remains at 80.

In the last two weeks, ending August 9, the DPH reports a total of 71 new cases in Stephens County.

For surrounding counties, Habersham County has 129 new cases in the last 2 weeks, Rabun County has 51, Banks County has 70, Franklin County 75, and Hart County has 37 new cases.

In Georgia, the DPH is reporting 963,802 total cases, an increase of 20,915 since WNEG’s last report. The DPH also reports an increase of 106 deaths since WNEG’s report last week, bringing the total to 18,856 confirmed COVID-related deaths.

To follow the daily COVID numbers visit dph.georgia.gov.