Atlantic General Hospital Reminds Public of COVID-19 Screening Options

Berlin, Md. – As Worcester County and the surrounding area begins to see their first confirmed cases of COVID-19, Atlantic General Hospital would like to remind the community of what individuals should do if experiencing signs or symptoms of the illness.

If you have symptoms or you have been exposed to the virus through direct contact with someone who has tested positive, you should contact your health care provider to determine whether you should be screened and how best to isolate yourself from others and for how long.

If you live in Worcester County you can also contact the Worcester County Health Department hotline at 410-632-1100 (select option #8), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to determine if you are a candidate for COVID-19 screening.

If your health care provider or the health department determines that you need to be screened, Atlantic General’s COVID-19 screening clinic at Atlantic ImmediCare, located on 10^th Street in Ocean City, is available to provide this service by appointment only. If you do not have a primary care provider or do not live in Worcester County, you can call 410-289-0065 to determine if you are a candidate for screening.

“We would like to stress that this clinic is only for those individuals who have been recommended for further screening,” said Dr. Sally Dowling, vice president of medical affairs at Atlantic General Hospital. “It’s important to understand that most people do not need testing. Thus far, only about 10-20% of those individuals who have been tested in Maryland are testing positive.”

Unless you are suffering a medical emergency, please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or other medical facility. If you are not experiencing a medical emergency you should speak with your healthcare provider, who can directly you to the appropriate facility. If you are ill and have a mask, please wear it to your appointment.

For more information on COVID-19 or to access available resources in Worcester County, please visit worcesterhealth.org. State information can be found at coronavirus.maryland.gov. Basic human needs resources including physical and mental health resources, work support, access to services in non-English languages, support for older Americans, and persons with disabilities, children, youth and family can be obtained by calling 211 or visiting www.211md.org.

Atlantic General Hospital specific COVID-19 updates can be found atwww.agh.care/covid-19.