New positive cases of COVID-19 continue to increase across parts of Iowa and one medical facility shares some insight in how they are continuing to deal with the pandemic.

Greene County Medical Center Interim CEO Brian Benson says UnityPoint Health in Des Moines recently announced requiring all saff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Benson talks about whether or not they are required to follow suit.

“We are not required or forced to follow the UnityPoint guidelines, even though we are an affiliate. However, we are continuing to look at it and looking at all kinds of evidence, scientific and medical evidence, to see if we want to go that route.”  

Benson points out in the past the medical center has had to transport individuals who were suffering from COVID-19 to another medical facility for advanced care, but that has since subsided.

“We’ve been able to care for most of the people here. We are seeing some increase in hospitalizations. Fortunately, right now the severity that we are seeing is manageable here. But we are seeing increases, certainly.”   

At this time, anyone who enters the medical center is required to wear a mask, all patients, visitors and staff are screened for COVID-19 upon entry, which screening includes a temperature check and a list of questions. It is the medical center’s policy that if your temperature is over 100-degrees, you may be asked to return to your vehicle and be tested for COVID-19, and you may be asked to not visit until you feel better and are no longer having symptoms.