Christus Spohn Hospital regional spokesman Kevin Dolliole is debunking a photo that is making its way around local social media, saying its hospitals currently do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus.
Rumors are rampant on social media that Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline has a confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus case. Dolliole said this is not the case.
The photo, which shows plastic sheeting covering what looks like a room doorway, created panic among Coastal Bend residents. A Christus Spohn hospital official said the photo is not of a quarantined room, but of a renovation.
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District Director of Public Health Annette Rodriguez also told KRIS 6 News there currently is no reason to worry about COVID-19 coronavirus in Corpus Christi.
"We have no cases of COVID 19 at any of our hospitals," she said. "Health District will report out positive cases if and when we get one."
So far, the recent strain of coronavirus reportedly has killed six people in Washington state, and 3,000 people worldwide.
Dolliole released a statement Monday night stating the hospital has identified a portion of its campus in which to treat patients should the need arise.
"If a patient meets the current CDC criteria, and is exhibiting symptoms consistent with the virus, we will isolate the patient in a private room and take proper respiratory precautions to safely assess and treat them," he said.
He, and other health-care professionals have stressed that the flu currently is more of a threat in the area than COVID-19 coronavirus, and encourages frequent hand washing and covering mouths while coughing.
