Forrest Health officials are asking the public to “listen to the facts.”
“There are many rumors that only add to people being fearful and anxious,” according to a statement posted on the hospital’s website Sunday. “We are doing our best to provide the most up-to-date, factual information.”
The statement also said:
• At present, there are two patients at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg who have tested positive for COVID-19 per Mississippi State Department of Health Labs.
• There are “several other test results pending.”
• Twenty-eight tests have been sent to the state from the Forrest Health system.
• All Forrest Health facilities “have adequate supplies on hand to meet our current demands, including N95 masks. This is a fluid situation that can change on a moment’s notice.”
• Forrest Health “is not providing masks to the public. Masks are reserved for patients and staff.”
• Some Forrest Health staff members may be wearing masks; these staff members are being monitored for the 14-day incubation of COVID-19 because “they have had low-risk exposure to the illness.”
• The system has discontinued serving meals to the public “through our cafeterias.”
• The visitor policy has changed to “one visitor per patient.”
• All Forrest Health public meetings have been canceled, including student programs and hosted classes, screenings and support groups.
For the latest information from the hospital system, visit www.forresthealth.org/covid19.
