Coronavirus: Dayton VA Medical Center to screen everyone entering facility

DAYTON — The Dayton VA Medical Center will begin screening everyone near the gates of the facility in an abundance of caution amid concern of the spread of coronavirus.

The screening will begin Wednesday at the Dayton campus.

“While the Centers for Disease Control still considers COVID-19 to be a low threat to the general American public, the Dayton VA Medical Center is paying special attention to it,” a statement read. “While there are no known cases of COVID-19 at the Dayton VA Medical Center or our clinics, we are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution as we put the health of our Veterans and staff first.”

The screening may lengthen entry times, so patients are being urged to consider that when arriving for appointments.

To assist with traffic, all Veterans, visitors and volunteers are asked to use the Gettysburg Avenue or South Liscum Drive entrances between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.  Staff is being asked to use the North Liscum entrance during those same hours.

All three gates will be open to everyone from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

During the evenings and weekends, only the North Licsum Drive entrance will be open.

The screening process includes three questions:

• Do you have a fever or worsening cough or flu-like symptoms?
• Have you traveled to China, Japan, Italy, Iran or South Korea in the last 14 days?
• Have you been in close contact with someone, including health care workers, confirmed to have the coronavirus disease?

The screening process is expected to continue 24/7 for the foreseeable future.