Samaritan is taking steps to protect patients, caregivers, staff and volunteers from the Coronavirus. Find out more.

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

We are prepared. We are responding. We are here for you.


On behalf of Samaritan, please be assured that there is nothing more important than the safety of our patients, families, staff, volunteers, and our community. We have a dedicated Coronavirus Task Force that is examining each and every layer of this situation daily. We coordinate our work and decision-making processes with multiple entities, including the New Jersey Department of Health, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Quick Links: Visiting Inpatient Centers | Resources | Cancellations/Closings | Volunteering | FAQs | Relieving Anxiety |

Please be assured that we are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our community. Those steps include:

  • Screening employees
  • Screening patients and those who live in the same house
  • Taking necessary steps based on the screenings
  • Providing protective gear such as gloves, masks, and gowns to our clinical staff to use as needed
  • Suspending volunteer visits to patients
  • Enforcing best practices, such as hand hygiene and social distancing, for employees
  • Cancelling in-person events and conducting all necessary meetings via teleconference

Visiting our Samaritan Centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly

Upon entering one of the Centers, we ask that you follow these policies for the safety of our patients, visitors, and employees:

  • Visitors will be screened before each visit.
  • Those who have tested positive for COVID-19, will not be permitted to enter the building.
  • Those with a fever of 100 of or greater, will not be permitted to visit.
  • Those with any symptoms will not be permitted to visit.
  • Patient visitation is limited to immediate family (includes spouse (significant other/partner), parent, children, grandchildren, siblings and/or the Medical Power of Attorney.
  • Visitation is limited to two visitors in the facility at a time.
  • Children under the age of 16 are not be permitted to visit.
  • Common areas temporarily closed, visitors will need to stay in patient rooms unless requested to leave by staff based on patient care needs.
  • All visitors are required to wear face masks and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. Additional PPE may be required based on isolation requirements.
  • One personal clergy of the patient may visit once daily.

We ask in advance for your cooperation as our policies and procedures change over time in response to the spread of the Coronavirus. We are dedicated to providing exceptional care in a safe environment.

If you have any questions, please e-mail info@samaritannj.org. We will respond as soon as possible. We are here for you and thank you for your cooperation.

Keeping your Family Safe

Here’s what you can do to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus and protect yourself and your family:

  • Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water
  • Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant
  • Remain 6 feet away from others
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or your bent elbow
  • Stay away from community gatherings
  • Ask visitors to your home to follow these precautions
  • Seek medical attention immediately if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing
  • Stay informed via reputable resources such as the ones below

Additional Resources

Cancellations & Closings

Support Groups >>
Samaritan Thrift >>

Rescheduled for October 5, 2020: Annual Golf Tournament >>

Volunteering

Though you may be sheltering in place, we continue to welcome your volunteer inquiries during this challenging time. We are holding virtual orientation and training sessions to help prepare you for the time when we can all be together again. Thank you! Learn more >>

Masks for Administrative Staff and Visitors

For the safety of all those who work for Samaritan and visit our inpatient centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly, we are asking employees and visitors to wear masks.

To have a mask for everyone, we are asking for your help. If you have the gift of sewing, please consider using that gift to support our initiative to stop the spread of the COVID-19 and protect all those we serve.

Please follow these guidelines:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a novel coronavirus?
What is a novel coronavirus? Novel (meaning “new”) coronavirus is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus, and it has the potential to cause severe illness in some people.

How does novel coronavirus spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

  • The air by coughing and sneezing
  • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
  • In rare cases, contact with feces

How severe is novel coronavirus?
Health experts are still learning about the illness caused by the new virus. People infected have had illness that has  ranged from mild (like a common cold) to severe pneumonia that requires medical care in a hospital.  So far, deaths have been reported mainly in older adults who had other health conditions.

What are the symptoms?
People who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus have symptoms that may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Source: New Jersey Department of Health

Relieving Anxiety

We understand that many may be feeling anxious and stressed about our current situation. This is understandable given that many aspects of our daily lives are not as we once knew them. To help you relieve the anxiety and stress you may be feeling, please visit these online resources:

Samaritan Music Therapist Sara Kuhlen recently recorded a series of videos so that she can continue to support patients and families even when in-person visits are not possible. We thought you would enjoy singing along too >>