IRON MOUNTAIN – For the safety of patients, visitors and staff, the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center is changing its visitation policy for all its heath care facilities in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin to help to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Effective March 16, the VA medical center and its seven community-based VA clinics are not allowing visitors for most patients and staff until further notice.

Visitors will be prohibited from entering the medical center unless it is necessary for providing medical care, supporting patient care activities, or visiting under exigent circumstances, such as grave illness or imminent death of a family member under care in the facility.

All patients and visitors that do need to come into the medical center or its community-based VA clinics will continue to be screened for signs of respiratory illness and exposure to COVID-19 prior to entry. If screened positive, an individual will be treated appropriately.

Enrolled Veterans who have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, should call the nurse triage line at 906-774-3300 (toll free 800-215-8262), extension 17066, before visiting their provider at the VA medical center or local VA clinic.

Information for veterans can be found at https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/72615/vas-recommendations-help-slow-covid-19-virus/

For CDC updates, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.