"Small" number of Mission Hospital staff test positive for COVID-19

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Mission Health has confirmed staff members at Mission Hospital in Asheville have tested positive for COVID-19.

Nancy Lindell, a spokesperson for Mission Health, confirms with News 13 that "a small number of colleagues at Mission Hospital" tested positive. An exact number was not provided.

"At Mission Health we continue to do everything we can to protect our colleagues so they may serve our patients and communities during this time of unparalleled stress on the health system and community due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Lindell wrote in a statement to News 13.

Lindell says after learning about these cases, the hospital immediately activated "protocols for handling COVID-19 cases," which included isolating anyone impacted and notifying anyone who may have been in contact with those who tested positive. Team members on the unit are being tested for COVID-19 while a deep clean is being done as well.

"We continue to work closely with state and local health departments and the CDC, and continue to monitor the situation closely," Lindell wrote in a statement.

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Read Mission Health's full statement below:

At Mission Health we continue to do everything we can to protect our colleagues so they may serve our patients and communities during this time of unparalleled stress on the health system and community due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have learned that we have a small number of colleagues at Mission Hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19. Upon learning this, we immediately activated protocols for handling COVID-19 cases, including isolating the impacted colleagues at home and notifying individuals who may be at risk because of contact with the impacted colleagues. As a precautionary measure and in accordance with CDC guidelines, we are in the process of testing team members on the unit and conducting a deep clean in that space.

Our efforts to protect our colleagues include a universal masking policy implemented in March requiring all staff in all areas to wear masks, including N95s, in line with CDC guidance. Additional infection prevention protocols in place include limiting entry into our facility so we can screen patients and staff as they enter, the designation of specific areas in our hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients and those awaiting results, and environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures.

We continue to work closely with state and local health departments and the CDC, and continue to monitor the situation closely.