NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital has received confirmation that two of its patients have tested positive for the coronavirus disease COVID-19, the hospital announced Wednesday.
The hospital was notified of the two positive tests by the state Department of Public Health on Tuesday, the hospital said Wednesday morning. Because the cases were tested at the state public health laboratory, they are considered “presumptive” positive. They are now being sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation of the testing result.
“Our infection control and emergency preparedness teams have been preparing for this possibility since we first learned of the outbreak in China,” Cooley Dickinson Chief Executive Officer Joanne Marqusee said in a statement. “We are so proud of our staff for all they have been doing to prepare and to protect the health of our patients and community. We work around the clock and will continue to do so.”
The two patients are the first official cases of the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus in Hampshire County. Very few tests are being done in the state, however, meaning that the actual number of cases is likely to be much higher. Cooley Dickinson spokeswoman Christina Trinchero said that as of Wednesday, the hospital had tested only 25 patients.
As expected, the hospital has seen an increase in patients with respiratory symptoms, and therefore an increase in testing for COVID-19, over the past several days, the hospital’s statement said.
The hospital said it is coordinating closely with the state DPH, and that it is following all guidelines from the DPH and the CDC. Hospital staff and providers have followed all isolation and personal protective equipment protocols in caring for patients, the statement said.
In addition to the two presumptive positive tests at Cooley Dickinson, Baystate Medical Center said on Saturday that it had treated two confirmed cases and had another two dozen possibly infected patients in isolation. Baystate Franklin had five suspected cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the state listed one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Franklin County, two in Hampden County and 17 in Berkshire County. A case is considered “confirmed” when the CDC conducts its own analysis.
Testing is still very limited in the state, so strict criteria are being used to determine who is tested, Cooley Dickinson said in its statement.
“With or without a test, people with mild symptoms should stay home,” the statement reads. “If they are concerned about whether they need to be seen by a provider, they should call their primary care provider.”
According to the CDC, symptoms of the coronavirus disease include fever, cough and shortness of breath within two to 14 days after exposure.
As the virus spreads, many local hospitals, including Cooley Dickinson and Baystate Medical Center, have instituted no-visitor policies. Those policies have a few exemptions, however — for end-of-life care and those giving birth, for example.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.