COVID cases jump to 8

Posted on May 22, 2020

As community testing has “dramatically increased,” Taylor County’s positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have jumped from just three to eight this week, prompting several local businesses to voluntarily close in an abundance of caution.

Doctors’ Memorial Hospital’s (DMH) Perry Clinic (located in the DMH Medical Plaza), Deal’s Famous Oyster House on Hwy. 98 West and Studio 221 Women’s Fitness Center on Jefferson Street will all be temporarily closed for deep cleaning after an employee or member tested positive for the virus.

Two of the latest positive test results are employees of DMH, one of which works at the Perry Clinic in the DMH Medical Plaza at 555 N. Byron Butler Parkway, with the second working at the hospital (located at 333 N. Byron Butler Parkway).

According to DMH CEO Tom Stone, both employees are believed to have contracted the virus outside of DMH.

“This pandemic has impacted every nook and cranny of our community, including us here at DMH,” Stone said.

“We have been in regular communication with the Department of Health and, out of an abundance of caution, have elected to close the clinic until June 3,” Stone said.

During this time, telemedicine visits will be available with Dr. Tae Yu, Dr. Ramel Failma and nurse practitioner Tiffanee Padgett Monday through Friday.

“We will take this time to perform an extensive deep clean of the clinic and test our employees. DMH will provide minimal staffing for refill requests,” the statement said.

The second positive employee, who works at the hospital, was screened before each shift and wore a mask in clinical areas to protect patients, as have all DMH employees since early March, Stone stated.

“We have strict screening guidelines for our patients and employees, thorough disinfecting and cleaning processes and mask policies to limit the spread of COVID-19. The safety of our patients, staff and community remains our highest priority,” Stone said. “We continue to follow proper hand hygiene, mask and disinfecting guidelines.”

DMH expects to see more positive COVID-19 cases as testing has significantly increased, in part due to the Department of Health-Taylor’s (DOH-Taylor) free community testing (see related story).

Additionally, Studio 221 Women’s Fitness Center in Perry will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning, after a member who has tested positive for COVID-19 visited the gym this week.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but I will feel better knowing everything has been thoroughly sanitized before allowing anyone else back in,” Studio 221 said in a Facebook post.

According to Studio 221, all members that have used their key fob since Monday, May 18, have been personally contacted.

Deal’s Famous Oyster House also temporarily closed its doors until the first week of June after an employee tested positive. According to reports, the employee had not been in contact with any customers for the past week.

“Although the health department said we do not have to close, for the safety of our workers and customers, we will be closed and in quarantine for 14 days,” the popular Taylor County seafood eatery announced on its Facebook page Sunday evening.

“As our testing efforts continue, we ask that the community continues to wash their hands often with soap and water, practice social distancing, wear a mask and cover their cough or sneeze. Together we can slow the spread,” DOH-Taylor Public Information Officer Martine Young said.

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