SAYRE, PA.(WENY)-- Officials at Guthrie Health are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As many other hospitals and medical facilities around the nation have done, Guthrie has announced they are putting limitations on their visitor policies. 

"We have eliminated  almost all visitation. There are select areas where that is not completely eliminated but for the majority of our patients, they 
unfortunately will not be able to have visitors. We understand that's difficult for our patients but it really is the right thing to do, and it is mandated in the State of New York," says J. Michael Scalzone, MD, MHCM, Executive Vice President, Chief Quality Officer at Guthrie Clinic. 

Along with limiting visitation, the following Guthrie facilities have also decided to postpone non-emergency surgeries starting March 18th through April 10th:

  • Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
  • Guthrie Corning Hospital 
  • Guthrie Cortland Medical Center 
  • Guthrie Towanda Memorial Hospital
  • Guthrie Troy Community Hospital
  • Guthrie Big Flats same Day Surgery Center

Officials with Guthrie area aware of how upsetting these measures are to many patients, but it is what has to be done to try to flatten the curve.

"We want to slow down the course of that spread. What that allows us a few things to do is it allows our resources to be maintained so that we can take care of the individuals, and it allows less pressure on our more limited resources. Such as intensive care units and things like that." 

For those who still have questions and concerns Guthrie has now created a hotline to help those who want to speak to trained professionals.

"We want to try to reassure the public for those have concerns, but we also want to make sure we direct those people to the right answers when they have that. So we've put in a hot line, that hot line is staffed by folks who have expertise in control and nurses."

The phone numbers for the hotlines dedicated to answering the questions about COVID-19 are:

  • 844-357-2840
  • 800-836-1925

The lines will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The lines are staffed by Guthrie team members who are prepared to answer questions related to COVID-19, including its symptoms, transmission, prevention and testing. These lines are not intended for emergency calls.