MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19, a hospital spokesperson said Tuesday.
The spokesperson did not give any information about the patient, citing privacy and confidentiality laws.
The patient likely contracted the virus somewhere in the Mid-South community but the patient is now quarantined at home.
The hospital also confirmed “several cases” of the virus involving St. Jude employees.
“This (employees testing positive) is not surprising as testing has increased and COVID-19 is peaking in the Mid-South,” the spokesperson said in a statement, which is in full at the bottom of this story. “The employees work in both patient care and non-patient care positions. St. Jude is working closely with health authorities who are handling proper notifications.”
The patient was not on the hospital campus long, but hospital staff took all necessary precautions to ensure no other staff or patients were exposed.
The spokesperson said St. Jude started preparing for the coronavirus early on as the virus emerged in Asia.
They said the hospital is focused on making sure all patients are receiving quality care and are kept safe.
Our patients, families and employees’ safety and health are our top priorities. Through our ongoing and proactive screening and testing process available to patients, their families and our health care staff, we have identified a case of COVID-19 in one of our local patients. Because of patient privacy and confidentiality laws, we cannot share private information, but we can tell you the patient likely contracted COVID-19 in the Mid-South community and is quarantined at home. The patient’s time on campus was short, and St. Jude clinical care staff took all appropriate precautions. No other patients or employees were exposed. In addition, we have identified several cases of COVID-19 in our employees. This is not surprising as testing has increased and COVID-19 is peaking in the Mid-South. The employees work in both patient care and non-patient care positions. St. Jude is working closely with health authorities who are handling proper notifications.
Soon after the virus emerged in Asia, St. Jude began preparing for COVID-19 and implemented its Emergency Operations Plan that included comprehensive measures to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. We are working day and night to continue to give patients the highest-quality care and to keep them safe. We remain focused on providing all patients and families the very best care and on ensuring the health and safety of those we serve. We thank our team for their tireless dedication to our mission, especially now.