Hospital sees first positive virus cases

Sundance Memorial Hospital experienced two positive cases of COVID-19 last week, according to Interim CEO Micki Lyons. The first patient was announced on Thursday and is no longer within the facility as they were transferred to Rapid City for treatment.

“Everything went well,” reported Lyons to the Crook County Medical Services District Board of Trustees after the first incident.

After it was confirmed that the patient had tested positive, she said, the hospital went through the process of determining who may have been exposed and asking any employees of the long term care unit who were on this list to remain home for 14 days. Members of hospital staff were asked to check their temperatures, watch for and report symptoms and be tested for the coronavirus if symptoms did manifest.

“This was someone not from our community who was brought in by EMS,” Lyons said.

The second incident was reported by Crook County Public Health on Monday afternoon. According to the press release, the second positive case was also an out-of-state tourist who sought emergency medical care while in Crook County.

The incidents will not appear on Crook County’s official tally of COVID-19 cases. Infection reporting is based on the patient’s place of residence rather than where they received the positive test.

The hospital has not altered its policy on allowing visitation at the long term care, Lyons said on Friday. State-mandated testing is still taking place within the nursing home, with 20% of staff and patients tested each time.

Three rounds of this testing have now taken place, she said, and so far no residents or members of staff have tested positive.