Beloit Health System, City of Beloit and Rock County Are Prepared For COVID-19

BELOIT, WI. – Beloit Health System (BHS) has been taking action to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and the public. All efforts are being made to keep BHS patients, employees, and the community as healthy as possible at this time. “We are taking all measures to best inform and protect the health of patients, team members, and the public. This is not a time to panic, but a time to take necessary precautions,” commented Tim McKevett, BHS President and CEO.

Due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, BHS encourages the public to follow guidelines established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). BHS has been taking steps to educate and inform the public, to include the Covid-19 seminar held this week. Dr. Vijaya Somaraju, BHS Infectious Disease Specialist and Rock County Health Department Board Member noted, “There is strong coordination among the county, the city, and across local municipalities. Practice meticulous hand hygiene and keep your family safe.”

As public health remains the top priority, proactive steps that the health system is currently taking include:

• Prescreening protocol is in effect.
• Please call your primary doctor prior to coming to the Hospital or Emergency Room.
• You may be eligible to be “pre-screened” for symptoms over the phone.
• BHS is limiting visitors to the main Hospital and Beloit Clinic locations. Primary visitors will be allowed to visit for one (1) hour during every 24 hour period. Exceptions will be made for the end of life patients. Visitors must be free of flu-like symptoms.
• No visitors ages 15 years or under will be allowed in the hospital.
• Hospital visiting hours are between 11 am and 8 pm.
• Volunteer in Partnership (VIP) services are currently suspended for the next 30 days.
• Please be prepared to sign the visitor log upon entering BHS facilities.
• It is recommended to consider canceling or postponing local events of 50 or more.
• Limit group meetings and keep face-to-face gatherings to small numbers.
• For questions and concerns, you may call the designated hotline at: 800.303.5770.
• Please visit the BHS website for updates: beloithealthsystem.org
• More detailed information is available on the COVID-19 website: cdc.gov/coronavirus

“The City is proud of our highly collaborative approach to COVID-19 with our health partners and the School District of Beloit. The City will not be hosting events that anticipate 50 or more attendees in close quarters and are encouraging other groups to do the same. We are also limiting out-of-state work-related travel. For up-to-date City of Beloit cancellations, please visit www.facebook.com/cityofbeloit,” stated Lori Luther, City Manager.

About Beloit Health System

Beloit Health System is an independent community health system serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. We offer world-class facilities and services to improve the overall health of the communities we serve with cornerstones for quality, engagement, integrity, and patient satisfaction.

If you would like more information about this release, please contact Megan Goggin, Manager of Marketing and Community Relations at Beloit Health System at 608.363.5714 or email mgoggin@beloithealthsystem.org