CHARLOTTE — Doctors are on the front lines, treating patients with and without the coronavirus, and Channel 9 has learned two employees at Charlotte doctor’s offices have tested positive -- an employee at Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat in Southpark and a doctor at OrthoCarolina Foot and Ankle Institute in Elizabeth.
Both offices are still open.
At the Southpark office, a spokesperson confirmed the employee works in the eye department and hasn’t been at work since March 25. The practice sent an email to all of its patients, saying those who came into contact with the staffer will be contacted.
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The OrthoCarolina office is currently still open and continues to see patients. Channel 9 was told a doctor there tested positive over the weekend. The last time that doctor was at the clinic was 10 days before testing positive.
On March 17, Channel 9 reported a different doctor at OrthoCarolina tested positive.
In both cases, Channel 9 has heard from anonymous viewers, staff and their families, concerned with how these offices are being cleaned to protect others from the virus.
>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat sent us a statement saying it is doing more enhanced cleaning, limiting and screening visitors, restricting business-related travel and asking staff traveling back from hot spots to self-quarantine for 14 days.
OrthoCarolina told Channel 9 cleaning procedures have been amped up and they’re talking to every patient before their visit to screen them for symptoms.
It remains unclear how the doctor contracted the virus, whether it was from direct contact or community spread.
We checked with the Department of Health and Human Services. If you’re in a work environment and you’re concerned about your safety, they suggest you report it to human resources and, if necessary, the department of labor.
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