DCH Coronavirus Update 3-21-22

Update March 21, 2022

Mask and Visitation Update

DCH continues to closely monitor COVID-19 infection rates in the world, country and county. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) categorizes overall levels of community transmission into low, moderate, substantial and high. Currently Tuscaloosa County is listed as moderate but may soon move to low. Since March 9, DCH has reported 10 or fewer total COVID-19 cases at its three campuses.

In general, masks are still required by employees, physicians, patients and visitors. A mask must be worn to enter any building or in any location where a patient might be encountered.

DCH’s limited visitation policy remains in force and will be adjusted based on:

• COVID-19 Community Transmission Rate (as defined by the Alabama Department of Public Health).
• Availability of staffing.
• Availability of personal protective equipment.

Based on the current moderate COVID-19 transmission rate, effective this Wednesday, March 23, DCH is modifying its COVID-19 visitation restriction policy.

DCH will continue to allow limited visitation with COVID-19 patients but is substantially expanding visiting hours and lessening restrictions for non-COVID-19 patients.

The updated policy can be found at https://www.dchsystem.com/covid-19/visitation-policy/.

COVID Update

To protect patient privacy, DCH has established a minimum threshold of five for reporting numbers of inpatients with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

DCH Health System internal counts as of 4:03 p.m. on 3/21/22:

• 6 inpatients within the DCH system who are positive for COVID-19.
• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are being treated in the ICU.
• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are on ventilators.
• 14,703 (cumulative) unique positives for COVID-19 tests including results from the ED, triage tent and inpatient. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 57,941 (cumulative) unique negatives for COVID-19 at DCH sites.
• 18,045 (cumulative) positive COVID-19 at DCH sites. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 130,810 (cumulative) negative tests at DCH sites.
• 5,049 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have been discharged.
• 885 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have died at DCH. This is not an indication of the cause of death, only that the individuals were positive for COVID-19 at the time of death.