COVID-19 Information

The health and well-being of our patients, visitors, healthcare providers and staff at Shannon is our main priority as we provide a safe environment and the very best care for our patients. As we have updates regarding COVID-19 care in our community, we will update the information below.

Shannon COVID-19 hotline

844.6.SHANNON (844.674.2666)
This number is available from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Individuals with questions regarding testing or the vaccine for COVID-19 can call and connect to a clinical provider who can answer questions and direct them to next steps. This line can also answer questions about other services at Shannon during this time.

COVID-19 testing

Shannon offers COVID-19 testing at the following locations:

Shannon Clinic North - 2626 N. Bryant - 325.481.2271
Shannon Urgent Care South - 3502 Knickerbocker Road - 325.481.2222
Shannon Urgent Care West - 4251 Sunset Drive - 325.481.2226
Shannon Clinic Jackson Urgent Care - 2237 S. Jackson - 325.481.2321

Appointments are not required but are recommended. You may call ahead and let our staff know you are coming for a COVID visit.

Shannon will continue to collect insurance information and bill insurance for all of your Covid testing. Any balance not paid by your insurance will be the responsibility of the patient. Individuals without insurance will be responsible for the cost of COVID testing. Discounts are available for prompt payment. Please contact Shannon Customer Service at 325.481.2121 for assistance.

Effective 8/8/22, testing prices are as follows:

PCR Covid Test - $175.00
Standard Covid Test (Antigen) - $100.00
Covid/Flu Combo Test - $150.00

Your test result will be posted in your Shannon MyChart account within 24 to 48 hours. To sign up for a MyChart account visit https://mychart.shannonhealth.org/mychart/signup. You will receive information in your packet from the testing site that will give you instructions on what to do depending on whether your result is positive or negative.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Doses

Shannon is following CDC guidance regarding vaccine booster doses.

The CDC recommends the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Everyone age 5 years and older should get 1 dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Children age 6 months to 4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will be updated as needed.

Shannon's COVID Vaccine Clinic is located at Shannon Pharmacy, 122 S. Oakes. Vaccines are available Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. No appointment is necessary.

For more information on recommended booster guidelines, please visit the updated page on the CDC website.

You can also call our Shannon COVID-19 Hotline at 844.6.SHANNON (844.674.2666).

Visitation policy

To maintain safety for all, while also supporting the needs of our patients, we have revised visitation restrictions within our hospital facilities.

One designated visitor is allowed in the Emergency Department at this time.

Two visitors per patient will be allowed at one time within our inpatient facilities. This applies to the Acute Care units, Women’s & Children’s Hospital and Surgical Services.

Visitors are asked to bring a mask to the hospital and should wear it in common areas or while providers and staff are present in the patient’s room.
No visitors under age 10 allowed at this time.
Based on HHSC guidelines, limited visitation is allowed at Shannon's Skilled Nursing Unit. Visits must be scheduled in advance. Please contact the SNF Administration at 325.659.7427 for scheduling or more information.
Following state guidelines, no visitors are allowed within Shannon’s Behavioral Health unit at this time.

Patients at end-of-life may have a limited number of visitors who must remain in the room for the duration of the visit. This will be coordinated with the family by the patient’s care team.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding to help prevent the potential spread of illness during this time.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement these safeguards to protect our patients, caregivers, visitors and staff and help prevent the potential spread of illness during this time.

Safety Precautions for our Patients

Your health and well-being is our top priority, and we take numerous measures to provide a safe environment for all of our patients. Healthcare needs should not be put on hold – whether you have a chronic illness, are due for a screening or test, need a surgical procedure, or just an urgent care visit, you can be assured that our entire team is committed to providing you with exceptional care while keeping you safe.

How to use a Pulse Oximeter at Home

Some patients are asked to use a Pulse Oximeter at home to help monitor their oxygen saturation levels. The video below describes how to use this device.

Donation of Plasma

Vitalant, the local blood donation facility, is collecting plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19. Call "convalescent plasma," it contains antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which can be given to patients currently fighting COVID-19.

To be eligible, you must have:

A prior laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, either by a positive swab test OR a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies requested by your health care provider
Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 28 days
All other donor eligibility for an automated plasma donation

To learn more about this process and to apply to donate plasma, visit the Vitalant website.

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a COVID-19 screening and a test?

A screening for COVID is really an assessment of a patient who is experiencing flu-like symptoms and worried they may have been exposed to the virus. A provider will look at the patient’s symptoms and discuss their exposure to determine if they have potentially contracted the virus. If the patient meets the criteria mandated by the CDC, then we issue an order for the patient to be tested. Not everyone who is screened needs to be tested, and the decision is based upon the CDC criteria. To learn more, visit the CDC website.

What is the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, cause by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not been previously seen in humans, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, in 2019.

How does COVID-19 spread?

Current understanding about how the novel coronavirus spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. The virus is spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after expsoure to the virus. According to the CDC, people with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Fatigue
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain or body aches
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell
Diarrhea
Congestion or runny nose

How can I protect myself and my family from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

While distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has started, it will take time to be able to offer it to all individuals. The best way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. However, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of illness, including:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 40-60 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touch objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.

What are the guidelines for quarantine and isolation for COVID-19?

Below is the latest guidance (updated 12-2-20) from the CDC regarding quarantine and isolation, shared from the Tom Green County Health Department:

Stay home if you might have been exposed to COVID-19

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health and follow directions from their state or local health department.

Local public health authorities make the final decisions regarding how long quarantine should last based on local conditions and needs in the communities they serve. Follow the recommendations of your local public health department if you need to quarantine.

CDC guidance:

Am I at risk of contracting coronavirus if I come to visit the hospital or become a patient?

We regularly treat patients with infectious diseases and have comprehensive protocols and supplies to ensure we are able to do so with the highest regard to the safety and protection of our patients, visitors, healthcare providers and staff. If a patient is admitted to Shannon under investigation for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), that patient will be cared for according our protocols for dealing with infectious diseases, including treatment in isolated areas in compliance with CDC guidelines.

For more information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit www.cdc.gov.