Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) announced Tuesday they have opened their east Howard entrance for non-Emergency patients and hospital visitors. All patients and visitors will continue to be screened in their vehicles prior to entering the KHC campus.

The main parking lot entrance from Highway 14 (Lincoln Street) will remain 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, including clinic patients, outpatient testing, and surgery patients. Emergency patients will continue to access the Emergency Department from the designated Emergency entrance.

The east Howard entrance is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents are asked to use the Emergency entrance before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sundays.

KHC staff will be stationed at KHC parking lot entrances to screen individuals in their vehicles for the following symptoms: fever, cold, flu, cough, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To enter the building, individuals presenting with at least one of these symptoms will be directed to the Bell Avenue Clinic for further evaluation. Individuals must wear a sticker in the hospital, provided by hospital staff at the time they are screened, which indicates they have been cleared to enter KHC.

KHC continues to not permit visitors into the building with the exception of surgery, hospice, pediatric and critical emergency situations. Only one person in these select situations is allowed to be with the patient. KHC encourages all patients and visitors over the age of two to wear a face covering or face mask when visiting KHC locations.