COVID-19 Information

About Coronavirus Disease 2019

Think you might have COVID-19?

Schedule COVID-19 testing online

Just select “COVID-related visit” and follow the steps to find a testing location near you.

Or call 833-822-5523 to be screened. This Ballad Health Nurse Connect line is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also use this Coronavirus Screening Tool to help determine if you or a loved one need to seek medical care.

Visitation restrictions

New visitation guidelines are being implemented at all Ballad Health hospitals, ERs, long-term care, outpatient clinics and other facilities to help contain COVID-19 and protect our patients and team members.

Also, when visiting a Ballad Health facility where visitation is allowed, please wear a mask or face covering. Read more here.

Help keep yourself and others safe from the COVID-19 with these tips from the American Heart Association.

How the Appalachian Highlands is doing

COVID-19 scorecard

The COVID-19 daily scorecard shows several key data measures for Ballad Health’s 21-county service area, such as:

• Total positive COVID-19 case count
• Percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 of all who have been tested
• Number of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients
• Number of COVID-19 patients in ICU and number of those patients on ventilator support

Read the COVID-19 scorecard.

Physical distancing scorecard

Ballad Health is now producing a regular report on the effectiveness of physical distancing efforts in the Appalachian Highlands.

Learn more about the physical distancing scorecard.

Information for patients

June 22, 2020

Ballad Health urges caution in COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the continued risks

Alan Levine, Ballad Health’s chairman and CEO, said caution is especially warranted now, during vacation season and as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. More than half of the new COVID-19 cases at Ballad Health have been related to travel, and popular vacation spots such as Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Florida are reporting enormous spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Large gatherings, including family events, parties and community functions, have an inherently higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. Ballad Health leaders emphasize an increased need for masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing in these instances. Read more about these continued COVID-19 risks.

June 17, 2020

Ballad Health creates public service communications, materials for rural and community hospitals hard-hit by pandemic

Ballad Health has created a public service announcement (PSA)-style campaign materials for rural, not-for-profit and non-profit hospitals and health systems to download and customize – at no charge.

Read more about the campaign here. Or request the materials for download.

Apr. 30, 2020

Expanded COVID-19 testing

Following Ballad Health’s rapid testing capabilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we have now expanded our testing options even further. Beginning today, April 30, we are making COVID-19 testing available to anyone who feels they need it, regardless of symptoms or potential exposure.

Community members who would like to be tested will need to call our Nurse Connect hotline at 833-822-5523.

Please note: There is a $52 charge for the tests and tests might become limited, due to increased testing we will begin on patients who are scheduled for elective surgeries.

Elective surgeries resume

Ballad Health’s surgery sub-committee – a group comprised of physicians and leaders from throughout our system, representing a depth of specialties, markets and expertise – in conjunction with the state Economic Recovery Group, made recommendations to begin resuming elective surgeries, with some procedures able to be scheduled beginning May 4.

We will take a careful, phased-in approach that was developed by our physician-led elective procedures taskforce, remaining remain mindful of our staffing, supplies and triage levels.

Apr. 16, 2020

Ballad Health partners with Mayo Clinic for COVID-19 research

Ballad Health has announced a partnership with Mayo Clinic to conduct a national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) research study, which will examine convalescent plasma as an experimental treatment. Read more about this plasma study.

Apr. 10, 2020

Ballad Health announces major expansion of its virtual health program

Expanding on what was already the region’s most expansive network of telehealth technology, Ballad Health today launched a region-wide virtual urgent care center for on-demand care to patients from the comfort of their homes. Leave more about the Virtual Urgent Care Clinic and expanded telehealth capabilities.

Apr. 1, 2020

Ballad Health to deploy rapid testing for COVID-19

Starting this week, Ballad Health will be among the first healthcare systems in the nation to deploy rapid testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which changes turnaround for results from days to hours. Read more about rapid testing.

Mar. 24, 2020

Ballad Health welcomes handmade mask donations from community

To help preserve supplies, Ballad Health is accepting donations of handmade face masks for patients. Read more about handmade face masks or download a PDF of sewing instructions.

Mar. 18, 2020

COVID-19 affects blood supply; Marsh Regional issues urgent call for donations

The continued spread of COVID-19 and social distancing efforts are impacting blood donation supplies. Read about how the local blood supply have been affected.

Local updates

You can find more regional COVID-19 updates here.

COVID-19 resources

Find COVID-19 resources from the CDC, the states of Tennessee and Virginia, and other sources for more information.