Beginning today, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) is limiting the number of public entrances to campus. All patients and visitors will be screened in their vehicles prior to entering the KHC campus. The main parking lot entrance from Highway 14 will be closed. All patients and visitors must enter the KHC campus from Howard Street. The east Howard entrance is designated for non-Emergency patients and all hospital visitors. Emergency patients will continue to access the Emergency Department from the designated Emergency entrance on the east side of the helipad. KHC staff will be stationed in tents at KHC parking lot entrances to screen individuals in their vehicles for the following symptoms: fever, cold, flu, cough, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Knoxville Hospital and Clinics CEO, Kevin Kincaid tells KNIA/KRLS News when he stated earlier this week that the hospital was a safe place to come to, and that it is his job to keep the hospital safe, that would not be the case if screenings are done inside the building. Kincaid says that is why screenings will be done outside to make sure hospital patients and staff stay safe throughout this situation. 

 

To enter the building, individuals presenting with at least one of these symptoms must follow further instructions provided by KHC staff. They must wear a mask provided by staff. All visitors and patients must wear a sticker in the hospital, provided by hospital staff at the time they are screened. Screenings will be held at the east Howard entrance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Screenings at the Emergency Department entrance will be held 24/7.

 

KHC continues to encourage the public to follow prevention measures that are the same for other respiratory illnesses:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow.
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Contain germs by staying home when ill.
• The CDC does not recommend face masks for the general public.

For general questions about COVID-19, please contact the Iowa Department of Public Health’s hotline at 211, available 24/7, or visit their website at www.idph.iowa.gov.