Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System officials announced that effective immediately visitors are now limited to all CCHS facilities. This measure is being enacted to protect the health of patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors and to proactively limit the spread of COVID-19. These visitor limitations are the same precautions that are taken during peak influenza times, which is still active in Iowa.

Effective immediately:

• Visitors are now limited to 1 or 2 essential support persons per inpatient. Essential support persons must be 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• Volunteer services are temporarily suspended until further notice. This includes volunteers at the Information Desk, Gift Shop, and other locations throughout CCHS. These measures are being taken to protect the health of our volunteers.
• Non-essential meetings for the public, including Healthy U, are postponed until further notice.

The public is encouraged to continue practicing good hand hygiene; frequent handwashing with soap and water is the best first line of defense against the spread of viruses.

CCHS officials do not encourage the use of masks by healthy individuals. Masks should be used by individuals with respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing when they are within any CCHS facility for care. Individuals who are sick should also cover all coughs and sneezes in their elbow or tissues, and they should stay home until they are well.