The CEO of Murray-Calloway County Hospital said the hospital is prepared for COVID-19 if the virus is kept to a “slow trickle.”
Jerry Penner acknowledged in a Facebook post today that the virus breached Calloway County’s borders last week with the first case of COVID-19.
A hospital employee tested positive for the virus after interacting with a University Church of Christ visitor who also tested positive.
Penner said he was a leader in a Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad 17 years ago. He said his unit treated 10,000 battle casualties over 11 months and had to make hard choices with limited resources. Penner said he applauds the decisions community leaders like Murray State President Bob Jackson, school superintendents, clergy, business leaders and others have made to promote social distancing. He said these decisions are giving M-C-C-H and other healthcare providers in the county a “fighting chance to avoid difficult decisions in the future.”
Penner said M-C-C-H has enough personal protective equipment to treat the current COVID-19 situation in the county.
