The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center team routinely works closely with local and state public health officials to coordinate our response to these types of outbreaks based on recommendations from the CDC.

• The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is prepared to care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in private treatment rooms with special ventilation (negative airflow) to prevent the spread of any infection.

• Our clinicians and staff wear special protective equipment when gathering samples for viral testing and treating the patient.

• These patients will also be tested for influenza and other viral illnesses that can have similar symptoms.

• Testing for COVID-19 can be performed only with the approval of the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC.

• In the event of a local COVID-19 outbreak, the medical center will implement our emergency preparedness plan in accordance with the standardized Hospital Incident Command System.

• Visitors are no longer allowed at any Ohio State facility, with some limited exceptions. Additionally, staff are screening all entrants at all facility entrances to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Outpatient Pharmacies are now offering curbside delivery for patients 

• Health care food service operations are exempt from the government order to close dining spaces in restaurants and bars, so our hospital café seating areas remain open. However, most chairs have been removed from tables to encourage social distancing, self-serve stations are closed, and we’ve increased the number of single-serve and grab-and-go options for faculty, staff, patients and permitted visitors.

• Ohio State University and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center staff who are able have moved to working from home, and, where possible, in-person meetings have been canceled, postponed or moved to over-the-phone meetings.

• Information about COVID-19 reporting, employee leave management and associated workplace issues is available on the Human Resources website.