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DOWAGIAC — As coronavirus spreads to communities, Ascension, which owns Dowagiac’s Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital, has posted resources online for citizens to find information about the coronavirus COVID-19.

The infection prevention and emergency response teams at Ascension are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state local public health authorities to identify ways to detect, protect and respond according to recommendations, according to ascension.org.

COVID-19, is a newly identified respiratory virus that was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China, Ascension officials said. 

COVID-19 is a virus that causes mild cold-like symptoms in the majority of patients, but could lead to more serious illness including pneumonia in elderly individuals and those who have chronic medical conditions. Because of this, elderly individuals and patients with chronic medical conditions should take greater precautions to avoid exposure to the virus, Ascension officials said.

Ascension locations have issued visitor limitations to assist in containment and mitigation efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. The hospitals encourage interested readers to call ahead for more specific local visitor restrictions. The hospital is asking people who have flu-like symptoms, a cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, nasal congestion or sore throat to not visit.

Ascension is also asking that visitors be limited to only two people at any given time.

Online care options will also be available for patients of Ascension hospitals. The hospitals are working on improving access from patients’ homes.

For online urgent care from a person’s computer or mobile device, Ascension Online Care is available 24/7. Patients can use code HOME for a discounted $20 visit for the month of March. Interested readers can also download an app at ascension.org/onlinecare. The online care is available in all 50 states, and no insurance is required.

For people who think they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are showing symptoms, Ascension urges them to contact their physician and to call ahead to prevent the spread of disease.

To help prevent the spread of disease, the CDC recommends people with cold-like symptoms call ahead before going to a healthcare facility to let the staff know about any symptoms and recent travel. Healthcare workers will work with local public health department to see if patients need to be tested for COVID-19.