The health and safety of patients, family members and staff is our number one priority and we are closely monitoring the developing situation and taking a proactively approach to prevent the spread of viral illness.
St. Margaret’s COVID-19 hotline is no longer available. Please contact your primary care provider or call one of our Walk-In clinics in Peru or Princeton if you have questions related to COVID-19. Thank you.
For our latest visitor policy, click here.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses and human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people. However, the emergence of novel (new) coronavirus, such as SARS and MERS, have been associated with more severe respiratory illness. The same is true of COVID-19.
What is St. Margaret’s Doing in Response?
St. Margaret’s Health is taking a proactive approach and has been working closely with local health departments and healthcare team members. We are following Illinois Department of Public Health and Center for Disease Control and Prevention updates and recommendations. We are prepared to identify and provide appropriate care to our patients. We are actively using methods to conserve supplies and protect our patients, families and staff.
CLICK HERE to learn about the latest measures St. Margaret’s is taking to protect our patients, their families, our staff and the communities we serve.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
To protect yourself and prevent the spread of disease:
- Stay home when you are sick. Have a week’s worth of food, fever-reducing medications and water to be ready to take care of yourself if you become ill.
- If you have been in close contact with someone who has a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 AND you have respiratory symptoms and fever, please call ahead before visiting a walk-in clinic or your primary care provider so personnel will be prepared to assess you.
- Wash your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds), avoid handshakes, cough into your sleeve or tissue then throw away and wash your hands.
- Social distance yourself from others by at least 6 feet and stay home as much as possible (only leave your home for essential travel).
- As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies now indicate COVID-19 may even be spread by people who are not showing any symptoms.
- If you have further questions about general information on COVID-19 you can call the State hotline at (800) 889-3931.
How is COVID-19 Treated?
Most cases will recover without serious complication and you should take fever reducing medications, drink plenty of water and stay home and rest. If more severe symptoms, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, develop you may need to seek further medical care.
How Can YOU Help?
As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, makes its way across Illinois, at St. Margaret’s, we are aggressively planning to care for patients who present with symptoms. You have likely heard in the media that shortages of supplies are expected. There’s a way YOU can help! Please look in your business and homes and consider donating the following items:
- Unopened boxes of disposable gloves– nitrile gloves, latex gloves and nylon gloves are all appropriate. Gloves are needed in many aspects of the hospital from medical care to janitorial services.
- Masks– Many of us use N95 masks for dust protection in industrial situations or for home hobby use.
- Safety glasses with side shields– We are only looking for new items in sealed packaging.
- Cartridge for half-mask filters– Specifically, we need 3M High efficiency P3 HEPA Filters (part number 450-00-01).
- Isopropyl alcohol
How can you donate these items?
Call Frank Kobilsek, our Fundraising Coordinator at (815) 866-5757. He will make arrangements to pick up your contribution. Please don’t bring items to the hospital. It is best if you stay home to stay healthy.
We pray you, your family and your co-workers will remain healthy during this challenging time.
Additional Resources
For More Information on Prevention from the CDC, click here.
The St. Margaret’s COVID-19 Hotline is 815-663-2167.