63 Workers At Southern Indiana Hospital On Quarantine

SEYMOUR, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana hospital has placed 63 employees on a 14-day quarantine after they came in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The workers at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour interacted with a patient who came in for treatment but did not initially show any symptoms of the disease caused by the coronavirus, The Indianapolis Star reported.

The patient came to Schenk during the early stages of the national outbreak and began to develop symptoms over time, hospital spokeswoman Stephanie Furlow said. The affected Schneck workers initially did not wear proper protective equipment when in contact with the patient, she said.

While all of the employees have been placed on a standard 14-day quarantine, Furlow said employees who show no symptoms may be allowed to return to work sooner. Those employees will be required to wear personal protective equipment at all times.

The quarantine has not affected staffing, and the hospital is experiencing no shortages, she said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.