Coronavirus update for residents of South LA

For more information on MLKCH’s response, please contact: Gwen Driscoll, senior director of brand communications, MLKCH: 310-720-4441 / gdriscoll@mlkch.org.

Willowbrook -- In light of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19,) Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) wishes to advise residents of our Service Area on health precautions they can take as well as MLKCH’s response.

MLKCH continues to work in close partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to monitor the situation closely and to take measures to ensure the health and safety of our community.

For complete County and National Resources:

Reminder-Continue Practicing Prevention Measures: 

Without a vaccine or treatment, safety measures are still necessary to slow the rate of new COVID-19 cases and protect both the public and the healthcare system including:

  • Hand washing often and thoroughly
  • Social Distancing
  • Wearing a face covering/mask when outside of your home, or around others that live outside of your home
  • For more on information and tips regarding the latest phase of COVID-19, see our latest video series here

MLKCH Resources:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MLKCH has ensured its community has access to accurate, easy-to-understand information and tools on the virus to protect themselves and “flatten the curve,” such as the:

  • Dedicated COVID-19 website with numerous resources including links to telehealth resources, short Q&A Videos, interviews with MLKCH experts
  • Quick links to telehealth services so patients to do not have to make a visit to the emergency room
  •  “Ask Mia” virtual assistant that instantly provides advice, screens symptoms and answers common questions regarding COVID-19

As part of MLKCH response:

  • Visitation policy remains in place; please see our policy before coming to the hospital
  • Installed a security integration product to monitor visitor temperatures
  • A separate examination area has been set up for patient screening
  • Has secured adequate supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for both patients and staff
  • To not delay patient care, precautions are also being observed at each of our clinics; those safety measures can be found here
  • We began preparation to respond to COVID-19 in late January by anticipating increased volume, running preparedness simulations and standing up a command center. 

About COVID-19:

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, defined as a regional outbreak of an illness that spreads unexpectedly. WHO officials stressed that with proper prevention and avoidance, all countries can reduce threat of further transmission.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. The disease is caused by a virus called 2019-nCoV. Symptoms of this virus can include fever, runny nose, cough and breathing trouble.

Most who are infected with the virus either do not develop symptoms or develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually older adults or those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19: 

  • call your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken

It's up to ALL of us to fight COVID-19 by following official safety guidance.

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