Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

White River Health (WRH) works closely with local and state officials to safely care for patients, provide a safe work environment for employees, and ensure the availability of medical care to the residents of the communities we serve. White River Health provides testing for COVID-19 in our Rural Health and primary care medical clinics, outpatient treatment by referral, and hospital care, while continuing to care for patients with illnesses and medical conditions not related to COVID-19.  

Antiviral Medication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for  medications for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults:

  • with positive results of direct SARS-Co-V-2 viral testing and, 
  • who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 including hospitalization or death, and for whom other COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. 

Medications may be prescribed by primary care providers and dispensed by local pharmacies. 

Pharmacy Locator

Visitor Policy 

All visitors may enter White River Medical Center through the Emergency Department, East Entrance, South Entrance, and Josephine Ray Rogers Center for Women and Imaging. 

At Stone County Medical Center, visitors may enter through the Main Entrance or Emergency Department Entrance.  If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking medical care, please put on a mask (available at all entrances) and proceed to the nearest registration desk and we will be happy to assist you. 

To ensure have time for healing and safe work environment for our team, please observe the following guidelines for visitors. 

- Two visitors are allowed at one time for patients hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19. The two visitors must be willing and able to wear PPE at all times, and must be restricted to the patient room.  

- Two visitors are allowed at a time in the surgical services waiting area and pre/post unit

- Two visitors are allowed per patient or as space allows for outpatient services. 

Low Community Transmission

WRH visitor policy recognizes the important role of family, friends, and clergy in healing.  We appreciate your help in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by observing the following visitor guidelines.  If COVID-19 Community Transmission levels are low, source control is not required; however, it is recommended. 

High Community Transmission

When COVID-19 Community Transmission levels are high, source control (masks or other recommended items) is required for everyone and are available at every entrance. Bandanas, cloth masks, and neck gators do not provide adequate protection and are not permitted. 

Please Stay Home If

  • You've been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • You've recently tested positive for COVID-19
  • You have symptoms of COVID-19 - chills/fever, congestion/runny nose, cough, fatigue, muscle/body aches, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, new loss of smell or taste, or sore throat.







COVID-19 Testing

White River Health (WRH) provides COVID-19 testing at WRH Primary Care and Rural Health Clinics. 

Who Needs to be Tested?

  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms
  • At least 5 days after known or suspected close contact to COVID-19
  • For screening (schools, workplaces, congregate settings, etc.)
  • Before and after travel
  • When asked by a healthcare professional or public health official

COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Cough
  • Diarrhea/Nausea/Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Fever/Chills
  • Loss of Smell or Taste
  • Muscle Aches
  • Runny Nose/Congestion
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Sore Throat

Where Can I Get Tested?

  • White River Health Family Care - Batesville (previously Batesville Family Care)
  • White River Health Family Care - Cave City (previously Cave City Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Pediatrics (previously The Children's Clinic)
  • White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Batesville (previously The Diagnostic Clinic at WRMC)
  • White River Health Family Care - Drasco (previously Drasco Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Melbourne (previously Melbourne Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Cherokee Village (previously Midway Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Newark (previously Newark Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Newport (previously Newport Diagnostic Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Pleasant Plains (previously Pleasant Plains Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Strawberry (previously Strawberry Medical Clinic)
  • White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Mountain View (previously Stone County Family Medicine Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Mountain View (previously Stone County Primary Care Clinic)
  • White River Health Family Care - Heber Springs (previously Sugarloaf Medical Clinic)
  • WRMC Family Practice
  • White River Health Family Care - Southside (previously WRMC Medical Complex Southside)

At Home COVID-19 Test

At home COVID-19 tests are available for sale at retail outlets and pharmacies.    


More Information

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with on another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

Protect Yourself from COVID-19

  • Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. Free vaccines are available at local pharmacies. 
  • Wear a mask/face covering when in public and in close contact with people who do not live in your household. 
  • Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. 

More Prevention Tips

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Don't have close contact with people who may be infected with COVID-19. Stay home if you are ill. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
  • Maintain social distance: six (6) feet between yourself and others in public. 

Additional Resources

Stop the spread of COVID-19 misinformation by using trusted sources for information about coronavirus, testing, treatment, and vaccines.  These sites include important information to help you stay healthy, current travel advisories, and mental health support. Your primary care provider is another trusted resource to help you make informed decisions regarding care for you and your family. 

Arkansas Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Covid ActNow


Vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe infection and hospitalization.  Vaccines are approved for adults and children age five and older.  The vaccine is available at local pharmacies or your local county health office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detailed information about vaccines we've linked on this page.  Your local pharmacist or healthcare provider can answer your questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.  

Vaccine Information



Lengua Española

El Sistema de Salud White River (WRH) está preparado y está trabajando en estrecha colaboración con los funcionarios locales y estatales para atender a los pacientes, proteger a nuestros empleados y garantizar la disponibilidad de atención médica para los residentes de las comunidades a las que servimos. WRH se enfoca en la salud y el bienestar de nuestros pacientes, visitantes, empleados y comunidades a través de la promoción del bienestar, la prevención de enfermedades y la educación.

White River Health News and Updates

Since the emergence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), White River Health has pledged communication that is clear, concise, and transparent.  In that spirit, we consolidated all press releases and interviews in one place.  Our leadership team, physicians, and all employees are dedicated to caring for residents in every community of our service area.   

Please check this page often for links to the latest information about our response to the virus, as well as, up-to-date information about how we are caring for all the healthcare needs of our community.  Our facilities are open to meet the routine medical needs for our patients. 

Healthy at Home

White River Health is dedicated to improving the health of residents in the communities we serve.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Arkansas Department of Health recommends residents stay at home except for essential tasks such as work, grocery shopping, or medical appointments.  

School cancellations and closures of restaurants, movie theaters, parks, and other types of recreation create a vacuum in our otherwise busy schedules.  We want to provide resources for you to help you manage and thrive while at home.  

Community Support

White River Health Behavioral Health Services provide a Community Support telephone line to discuss mental health, self-care recommendations, information about community resources, medical assistance, and more. This is a free service of White River Health. Someone is available to take your call Monday thru Friday from 10 am until 2 pm.  Call (870)262- HOPE(4673)

Coronavirus: Key Facts to Know

With all the information swirling around about coronavirus, it’s important to understand the facts. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus that causes respiratory illness. It was first found in people in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and has now been detected in more than 100 locations around the world, including the United States. The latest information can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

What Are the Symptoms?

There are actually many types of coronavirus. Most people experience these viruses at some point in their lives. Common coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear up to 14 days after contact with the virus and may include fever, coughing, and trouble breathing. Some people have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. However, COVID-19 can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, leading to death in some cases.

Am I At Risk?
If you’ve been to a place where people have been sick with this virus, you are at risk for infection. Call your healthcare provider if you’ve been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 and you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Call, too, if you have these symptoms and you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

There is currently no specific medicine to treat COVID-19. Supportive treatment of severe cases may require treatment with IV fluids and oxygen.

Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people who are within about six feet from each other, through droplets of fluid that a person coughs or sneezes into the air.  It may be possible to get the virus if you touch a surface of object with the virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.  However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.  

The best prevention is to not have contact with COVID-19. Follow these steps, which will also help protect you from colds and flu:

  • Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Don’t have close contact with people who are sick. 
  • Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from COVID-19, unless your health care provider recommends it. People who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms should wear a mask to protect others from infection.



White River Health (WRH) provides COVID-19 testing at WRH Primary Care and Rural Health Clinics.  For questions about the need for testing, use our interactive Coronavirus Assessment Tool on this site or call (870) 262-6877. 

Who Needs to be Tested

People with Symptoms of COVID-19

People with Close Contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19

People having a surgical procedure

Where Can I get Tested

White River Health Family Care -Batesville

White River Health Family Care - Cave City 

White River Health Pediatrics

White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Batesville

White River Health Family Care - Drasco 

White River Health Family Care - Melbourne 

White River Health Family Care - Cherokee Village

White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Newport 

White River Health Family Care - Pleasant Plains 

White River Health Family Care - Strawberry 

White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Mountain View

White River Health Family Care - Mountain View

White River Health Family Care - Heber Springs

White River Health Family Care - Southside