(Beckley, W.Va. – July 15, 2020) – Raleigh General Hospital is urging community members to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public areas where social distancing is not easily achieved in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state mandate, as being an effective way to prevent the spread of the illness. The hospital has already instituted a universal masking protocol within its facilities and requires anyone entering to wear a face mask at all times. Please help us conserve supplies for patients and staff by bringing your own mask or face covering from home.

“Raleigh General Hospital strongly encourages our community members to wear masks because each of us plays an important role in helping to keep our community safe and protect one another from the spread of infectious diseases,” says Debbie Vaughn, Chief Nursing Officer at Raleigh General Hospital. “One of the easiest and most effective ways we can look out for each other and aid in the fight against COVID-19 is to wear a face mask in public spaces right now.”

Recent studies have shown that universal masking can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, especially in individuals who may be asymptomatic and unaware that they are ill. Face masks and cloth face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth, and be held securely in place with loops or ties.

“Until there is a vaccine, wearing a mask in public, practicing social distancing and proper hand hygiene are our best lines of defense in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Vaughn says. “That’s why we’ve established a universal masking protocol in our facilities to help protect our patients, providers and employees, and we’re encouraging our fellow citizens to do the same in other public places. By looking out for each other, we’ll get through this together and continue making our community healthier.”

For more information from the CDC on face coverings and how to make your own, visit RaleighGeneral.com. To learn more about how Raleigh General is working to ensure the safety of patients during this time, click here.

About Raleigh General Hospital

A part of LifePoint Health®, Raleigh General Hospital, southern West Virginia’s leading medical center, has served the city of Beckley and surrounding counties since 1921. The acute care hospital offers a full range of services including trauma, obstetrics, advanced imaging, lithotripsy, interventional cardiac care, oncology, emergency, gastroenterology, and advanced wound care and hyperbaric medicine services. Additionally, we offer the following surgical services: general, orthopedic, vascular, spine, gynecology, ENT and podiatry. Each year, the hospital admits over 10,000 patients, delivers about 1,100 babies and treats nearly 50,000 people in its emergency department. Approximately 3,500 inpatient surgeries, 8,000 outpatient surgeries and 4,500 endoscopies are performed annually. To learn more about Raleigh General Hospital, visit http://www.raleighgeneral.com.