COVID-19 (Coronavirus) updates

hotline: 903.577.sick (7425)

Information about Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19)

Updated May 22, 2020 - 3:33pm

TRMC continues to closely monitor the impacts of COVID-19 in the region and our community. We have prepared our staff and our facilities to best protect everyone who enters our doors, both those here to provide care, and those seeking it.

This page will continue to serve as a place where we share important information and resources. We will also provide updates to policies and procedures as they become available. Please take advantage of the latest offerings of our COVID-19 Hotline to help you with questions or to guide you if you are experiencing symptoms. Team members are standing by on this line 24 hours a day. Also, if you haven’t yet scheduled a virtual visit with one of your health care providers, please call their office and see if this new type of visit is right for you.

These new offerings are an important part of our plan to keep you safe and healthy during this uncertain time. Healthier Tomorrows Start Here.

Mask Guidance

Coronavirus Self-Checker

Important Links and Information for Northeast Texas

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Signage is currently in the health system entrances instructing patients/visitors to inform us immediately if they meet certain risk factors for COVID-19, including travel to endemic areas, close contact with a person who has confirmed COVID-19, and fever with lower respiratory symptoms.
We are reinforcing our infection protection training for ALL of our caregivers – nurses, technicians, transports, EVS, Food & Nutrition and others – to continue to allow us to care for our communities without putting our staff at risk.

There are many sources of information on COVID-19 including state, national and international organizations. Key sources of information include:

Texas Department of Health

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

State Department (DOS) Information on Travel

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations.html

When considering personal preparedness, it is important to keep a few points in mind. First, infectious disease experts are emphasizing coronavirus causes an illness similar to the flu. While a vaccine for coronavirus is not currently available, everyday habits that protect us from common respiratory illness are even more important now. We can all protect our own health as well as the health of our family members and community by remembering:

- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often, using either soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

If you and your family are planning to travel in the coming days, take extra precautions while passing through airports and using public transportation. In addition to the above basic safety measures, you should pay attention to the following travel concerns:

Stay up to date on travel health notices issued by the CDC. These notices could change on a day-to-day basis for different destinations.
- Warning Level 3: CDC recommends travelers avoid nonessential travel to these destinations.
- Alert Level 2: Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel.
- Watch Level 1: Travelers should use usual precautions.
Be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19, but keep in mind that many respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, can cause similar symptoms.
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
As with any trips, make sure you have your doctor’s contact information handy and locate the nearest hospital.

CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

If you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have traveled to one of the countries that are currently listed on the CDC Warning Level 3 list or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to feeling sick, seek medical care. Please call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms. They will advise you on the next steps.