SIH Primary Care Harrisburg temporailry closed amid COVID-19 concerns

HARRISBURG - Harrisburg's largest physicians clinic, SIH Primary Care Harrisburg, closed Monday after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.

SIH issued a news release Sunday evening announcing the clinic's closure.

SIH Communications Coordinator Rosslind Rice said scheduled appointments were being converted to video and/or telephone visits, and that patients had been notified of the change Sunday evening.

Rice said SIH Outpatient Rehabilitation and the SIH Outreach lab also are closed because they are in the same building as SIH Primary Care.

SIH is collaborating with Egyptian Health Department and SIH infectious disease personnel to begin contact tracing. Due to positives confirmed from community contact, SIH says it remains vigilant and continues to take precautions for the safety and well-being of its staff and patients.

Rice said those testing positive for COVID-19 had acquired it through "community spread" and that the exposures were not work-related.

While interacting with patients, all staff wear personal protective equipment and follow cleaning protocols, according to the news release.

Due to those safety measures, SIH believes there is no risk of COVID-19 exposure to patients recently treated at the clinic, according to the news release. SIH continues to monitor the situation and will share more information as to clinic reopening as soon as possible.

The SIH COVID-19 hotline at (844) 988-7800 is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Drive-through testing is available at SIH Urgent Care in Marion and near the campus of SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale at Illinois 13 and Poplar Street. Those desiring testing are asked to call the SIH COVID-19 hotline for an appointment time.