COVID-19 Updates

Safety Measures– Learn what we are doing to keep our patients safe from COVID-19.
Emergency Care – Don't delay emergency care – we’re here when you need us.
Visitor Guidelines – Visit our Patients and Visitors page to review our current visitor policies.
Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 – Information to keep you and your family safe.

Keeping Our Patients Safe

At Orlando Health, the health and safety of our patients are top priorities. To protect you and others, we have a several precautions and best practices in place to ensure the highest levels of infection prevention. Our teams are expertly trained and dedicated to serving you, and we want to remind you that getting the medical treatment you need is still important. Regardless of your medical need, you can have confidence knowing we are prepared to provide the same great care you have come to expect from us.

Why Orlando Health Facilities Are Safe for You

Here are some of the ways we work to protect you:

• Limiting entry points into our facilities to allow us to connect with everyone entering
• Screening all patients and visitors for common COVID-19 symptoms as well as less typical conditions
• Mandating self-screening for all team members and physicians
• Restricting the number and ages of visitors at our hospital and facilities
• Requiring universal mask-wearing for patients, visitors, team members and physicians, and the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene for clinical teams
• Ensuring safe distancing in public areas, including rearrangement of furniture in waiting areas
• Maintaining the highest levels of infection prevention, such as regular and proper hand hygiene and enhanced cleaning protocols
• Testing patients for COVID-19 before a procedure or operation, and limiting the number of procedures performed each day
• Implementing designated areas and care teams to care for COVID-19 positive patients separate from patients who have screened negative for COVID-19

Getting Emergency Care

If you or someone with you is experiencing a major medical emergency, get to the nearest emergency room (ER) immediately or call 911.

Emergencies can’t wait, and Orlando Health ERs are ready.

Any delay in getting the emergency care you need can result in a more serious illness or complications. Our ER safety protocols are designed to give you peace of mind and confidence in receiving care for a medical emergency, including:

• Moving any patients who come to our ER with COVID-19 symptoms into negative-airflow rooms, where the air is vented to an outside environment
• Requiring all patients, visitors and staff to wear facemasks
• Minimizing time, and ensuring safe distancing and mask-wearing in the waiting room
• Quickly getting patients to a room that has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between patients
• Making sure all our healthcare providers are adequately supplied with the necessary personal protective equipment

Don't delay your care – we’re here when you need us.

Conditions that may indicate a medical emergency include:

• Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain and shortness of breath
• Stroke symptoms, including sudden loss of balance, loss of or blurred vision, confusion or difficulty speaking, facial drooping, or arm weakness on one side
• Injuries, such as burns or broken bones
• Sudden or severe headaches
• Sudden, severe or persistent abdominal pain
• Significant bleeding, including vomiting or coughing up blood

This list of emergency symptoms is not all-inclusive. Other conditions may require emergency medical attention.

Protecting Yourself and Others

There are several precautionary measures you can take to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19, both at home and in public. Here are some tips and recommendations to follow from the infection prevention team:

• Keep a distance of at least six feet between yourself and other people.
• Wash your hands often – and properly – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Rub your hands until dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. These are places where germs can enter your body.
• Wear a facemask to cover your nose and mouth when in public places where you may be in close contact with other people.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or with a tissue; throw the tissue away immediately after use. Be sure to clean your hands afterward.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (such as tables, countertops, light switches, faucets, doorknobs and handles).
• Clean bathrooms, with close attention to all surfaces (toilet, shower and sink).
• Disinfect home electronics, such as computer keyboards and mice, phones and remote controls regularly.
• Avoid sharing drinks, food and silverware.
• If someone in your household is sick, give them a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
• If you don’t feel well, stay home, except to get medical care.

What to Do If You Get Sick

If you test positive for COVID-19 or think you are infected, follow these steps from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Mildly ill patients are encouraged to stay home, monitor their symptoms and call their healthcare provider for guidance.
• Patients who experience severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face should seek emergency care immediately.
• Older patients and those who are immunocompromised or have underlying medical conditions should call their doctor as soon as they are sick, even if symptoms are mild. 

More Information

More information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available on the CDC website.

Prevention tips – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html
What to do if you are sick – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
Overview – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html