Southeastern NC VA facilities screening veterans, personnel for coronavirus before entering clinics

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- To prevent the spread of coronavirus, Fayetteville VA NC Coastal Health Care System will begin to screen visitors before entering any of their facilities in Southeastern North Carolina.

Southeastern NC VA officials said their facilities spanning through Brunswick County, Cumberland County, Goldsboro, Hamlet, Jacksonville, Lee County, Fayetteville, Robeson and Wilmington will be staffed and supplied to manage potentially affected veterans.

In the meantime, hospitals are directing veterans to do the following:

• If veterans are experiencing acute respiratory symptoms, call 911 and contact your VA provider within 72 hours of emergency admission.
• If Veterans have symptoms of coronavirus such as fever with cough or shortness of breath, please stay home and contact your primary care team or the Clinical Contact Center at (1-800) 771-6106 and press 2 before coming to a VA facility. Clinical staff is available to provide 24/7 virtual care and support, including nurse advice and triage.
• Veterans who have traveled to a foreign country in the last 14 days or have been in direct contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, call (1-800) 771-6106 and press 2 BEFORE coming to the clinic, even if symptoms are not present.
• Unless needed, the hospital is asking patients not to bring visitors to appointments.

MORE COVERAGE:
Map of COVID-19 cases, deaths in the US, world
Chatham County man tests positive for coronavirus after visiting Italy
President Trump signs $8.3B bill to combat coronavirus outbreak in US
How COVID-19 'infodemic' is infecting the internet with false information
Essentials pharmacists say should be in your medicine cabinet amid flu season, coronavirus scare