Mohave Today

Nursing homes in the Mohave Valley and other medical facilities are taking extra precautions for the next few months due to the coronavirus spread. 

The extra precautions are being taken so their older residents and staff are less likely to contract the COVID-19 virus.

The Mohave Valley View Medical Center has already started taking extra precautions due to the flu season being underway for a couple of months. The hospital is currently asking that youth not come to the facility to visit patients being treated for any illness. The hospital is also stepping up and doing extra cleaning and sanitizing within the facility.

Precautions are also taken so the hospital staff doesn’t contract the virus and become carriers of COVID-19 or the flu. Since the symptoms are almost the same for both viruses, it is more difficult to decipher between the two.

Ryan Perkins, who is a spokesman for the Mohave Valley View Hospital, said if you have a fever or cough, don't come to visit any patient in the facility.

“If you have a fever or cough, don’t visit someone in a hospital,” Perkins said. “Don’t visit anyone in the hospital if you are sick."

However, Perkins also emphasized that if you are sick, you need to be checked out by hospital staff.

“Acute respiratory distress is a sign you need emergency care,” he said.

Local assisted living facilities in the area can isolate residents who appear to be suffering from COVID-19 or the flu. Experts said extra precaution is required for these types of facilities.