By JACK FICHTER/Sentinel staff
Test kits for the coronavirus continue to be scarce in Atlantic and Cape May counties.
According to Atlantic County Public Information Officer Linda Gilmore, resources are still limited, so testing is typically reserved for those who are symptomatic. Residents with symptoms should contact their health care provider, who can best assess if they meet the criteria for testing, she stated.
Gilmore stated those with mild symptoms including fever and cough should self-isolate at home and continue to monitor their symptoms for any changes. Most mild symptoms will clear up in about two weeks or longer.
According to Denis Brown, administrative aide to the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders, “testing is still similarly limited locally. I believe the drive-through clinics in the state have been focused in areas where there have been more severe outbreaks,” he stated.
Cape Regional Medical Center Public Relations Coordinator Susan Staeger said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines call for testing if a person is symptomatic. Those who are not symptomatic do not receive testing. Those who are exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, the guideline calls for self-isolation for 14 days. If the person becomes symptomatic, they are instructed to call their physician.
Cape Regional Urgent Care is doing limited testing for COVID-19 only at its Cape May Court House location, Staeger said. The criteria for testing is:
— Have you had close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
— Have a history of travel within 14 days of symptoms onset.
— Over the age of 60.
— Those with chronic medical conditions or are in an immunocompromised state that places them at higher risk.
— Health care workers or first responders.
Those meeting the criteria above may call (609) 465-6364 and select option #2 to schedule an appointment for Covid-19 testing. A brief registration and triage will be handled prior to their arrival. The urgent care location will be scheduling only a few appointments between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. while supplies last. An appointment must be made for testing.
Cape Regional Medical Center is continuing to accept protective masks sewn by the public. Contact Ray Wisniewski at (609) 463-2289 or Tom Piratzky at (609) 463-4042. In particular, mask makers are in need of elastic. The hospital provides a template for making the masks.
Shore Medical Center Public Relations Director Brian Cahill said support from the community has been tremendous in receiving masks.
“We have received masks from stores, dental offices and from numerous members of the community,” he said. “We are thankful for this generous outreach and wanted to offer some guidance so others can help. We are currently accepting homemade masks that are made of cloth and are washable.”
These homemade masks can be used for patients at the hospital without symptoms of COVID-19. Hand-sewn masks provide a layer of protection for others as it will help prevent them from spreading the virus if they have it but are not yet showing symptoms, Cahill said.
Masks can also be worn at home or if needed when people are in public for essential needs such as groceries. They need to be kept clean and washed frequently, he said.
“Those who present to our hospital with upper respiratory symptoms such as cough or symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 infection will, along with our staff, receive and wear commercially made hospital masks as the protective barrier,” Cahill said. “We are also accepting donations of these home-made masks.”
To donate home-made masks, call (609) 653-3882. Please masks in individual Ziploc bags before dropping off.
“We will arrange to have someone meet you at the entrance,” Cahill said. “Please leave a message if someone does not answer your call right away,” he said.
