UK St. Claire Urges Community to Take Precautions to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

Christmas is a time of giving … But no one wants the gift of illness this holiday season. As the cases of COVID-19 continue to fluctuate in our community, UK St. Claire (SCH) urges you, your family, and your friends to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy.

“There are ways to stay well while still enjoying holiday gatherings with your loved ones,” said Will Melahn, MD, SCH’s Chief Medical Officer/VP for Medical Affairs. “If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested for the protection of others. Honestly, it’s a good idea to get tested before holiday gatherings considering that not every person infected with COVID-19 will show symptoms.”

SCH has partnered with Wild Health to offer COVID-19 testing at the St. Claire Medical Pavilion secondary entrance (under the pedway) from 8 AM to 3 PM daily. Testing will not be available on Christmas or New Year’s Day, but the testing center will be open from 8 AM to Noon on Christmas Eve and 8 AM to 3 PM on New Year’s Eve.

To get your test results before the holidays, you can request the antigen rapid test. Results will be available via email within 2 to 12 hours. To schedule an appointment and complete the required pre-registration, visit www.wildhealthtesting.com/stclaire.

“Many people want to get tested after gatherings … which is also a good idea, but it’s important to remember that results will be most accurate five to seven days after exposure,” said Dr. Melahn.

If you test positive for COVID-19, the next step is to get better. Those that test positive for COVID-19 or have a known exposure and are at high risk for complications may benefit from monoclonal antibody therapy.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is used for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at increased risk for progressing to severe disease and/or requiring hospitalization. It is also used to prevent COVID-19 in patients who have been exposed to the virus and are at increased risk of progressing to severe disease and/or requiring hospitalization. To find out if monoclonal antibody therapy is right for you, complete the Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Screening Questionnaire at www.st-claire.org/monoclonal.

“There’s no one shield of protection against COVID right now, but we have some tools in our box to help us fight the spread of this deadly illness … masks, good hand hygiene, and most importantly – vaccinations,” said Dr. Melahn.

If you’re not vaccinated against COVID-19, consider giving yourself and your loved ones the gift of protection this year. Being vaccinated against COVID-19 can reduce your risk of serious illness, hospitalization, or even death.

UK St. Claire administers the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone ages 5 years or older. Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are available to anyone ages 18 years or older. Booster doses to increase your level of protection are also available.

You can schedule your COVID-19 vaccine or booster, by calling 606.783.7539. Schedulers are available to take your call Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM.

“COVID is still very real and still exists in our community,” said Dr. Melahn. “It’s not realistic to expect families to stay apart and friends not to gather, we just ask that you are mindful of the risks and know that UK St. Claire is here to ensure that you have a holiday season full of peace, joy, and good health.”