Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center this afternoon confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19.
According to the Hershey-based medical center, the person is an adult, non-employee patient and is being treated in “negative pressure isolation” according to COVID-19 treatment protocols.
The center’s press release stated that its officials are in “close contact” with both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the PA Department of Health. It declined to share further information due to privacy concerns.
“Medical staff currently caring for the patient have extensive training in the treatment of highly infectious diseases,” according to the medical center release. “A dedicated, in-hospital patient care area designated to specifically treat infectious disease patients will ensure COVID-19 patients receive the best possible care while all necessary precautions are taken to ensure the well-being of employees and other patients.”
The center stated that it remains open to treat all patients, but has suspended all non-essential surgeries and put in place a restricted visitation policy.
Earlier today, the state health department confirmed the first case of positive diagnosis of COVID-19 in Dauphin County. Throughout the commonwealth, the state Department of Health today confirmed that 479 positive cases have been reported in 33 counties.
