Colquitt Regional Medical Center preparing to restart day-to-day operations

MOULTRIE, Ga. — In Colquitt County, the number of COVID 19 cases as been much lower than in other parts of the state of Georgia.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center President and CEO, Jim Matney says it’s because many of their COVID patients testing positive began to peak due to early detection.

Matney tells us, “At our peak, somewhere around March 31st or April, we had 50 positives all in one day. Now we’re seeing that downward slope drop, and now we’re seeing less than 10 patients a day come out positive with COVID-19.”

With the medical center reaching a downward trend of Coronavirus cases in Colquitt County, they’re beginning to re-incorporate the day-to-day procedures for patients who haven’t been infected.

But to protect patients and the center’s staff, precautions are being taken.

“Now that we’re re-opening for surgery and cardiology procedures and the like is that we’re doing COVID testing on all of our patients. We’re trying to schedule for people having surgery, three to four days before they come in to do a COVID test on them,” says Matney

As day-to-day operations resume for Colquitt Regional Medical Center, they’re asking for the community’s continued cooperation, especially for those who are immuno-compromised.

Matney says, “What we define as vulnerable patients, includes those over 65, or patients who have copd, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure. Those patients, we are asking that they remain sheltered-in-place, and stay home.”

He says only three hospitals workers tested positive for COVID-19, they are back to work after two weeks of self-quarantine.