3 Madison County patients hospitalized with coronavirus

3 Madison County patients hospitalized with coronavirus

Sydney... huntsville hospital ceo david spillers told us today 1 person is hospitalized here are huntsville hospital main and the other 2 are at the hospital campus in madison.

He said at least 2 of those people came to the hospital for an unrelated medical issue and later tested positive for coronavirus.

Spillers said huntsville hospital is focused on getting patients who don't need to be hospitalized for other illnesses or injuries home.

Currently there are about three hundred and 50 fewer patients in the hospital than one week ago.

The hospital is also working with local surgery centers to try to obtain additional respirators so they have then if they are needed.

Right now - the hospital says it a decent supply of personal protective gear such as masks and gowns - but spillers said he has noticed some workers have started to make their own "i have seen people walk around the hospital today with coloroful masks on.

We aren't going to tell them to take it off."

That's okay.

If you want to go home and knit a mask, sew a mask and put it on, a little bits better.

Everybody could do that.

No harm, no foul."

Spillers explained as long as homemade masks meet c-d-c guidelines they will be allowed to be worn... and if personal protective gear supply does run out..

The hospital said homemade masks are a better option than no mask at all.

At this point - he said there's no shortage of supplies.

However - spillers said the faster they get test results back - the faster some coronavirus patients can quarantine at home -- which puts less stress on the protective gear situation.

That puts less stress on the protective gear situation.

The hospital said today it is using a private lab in birmingham to process coronavrius tests as well as a lab at hudson alpha.

Spillers said they are getting results back in hours -- unlike the state lab that can take up to 3 days to get results.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31 news.