A quarantine has been imposed for an unidentified patient atSilver Cross Home for upper respiratory problems.

Silver Cross Administrator Gussie Ashley said the quarantine wassolely for the health of the patient and the situation was notserious to the public.

“This is just a precautionary measure to keep other’s sicknessout and our sickness in,” she said. “Our concerns are just for thepatient’s recovery.”

Ashley said the quarantine is expected to last a few days, withno specific date of its lifting.

“We will evaluate the patient every day and make the decision tocancel the quarantine as necessary,” she said.

Haven Hall Health Care Center Administrator Kenneth Smith saidnursing home quarantines are a standard precautionary procedurethat are required by law, though Haven Hall has not enacted themeasure in recent years.

“It’s a standard precaution for anyone that may have acommunicable disease,” he said. “The State of Mississippi requiresus to impose that quarantine and close off that patient. Most ofthe time, it’s just for the health of the patient – if they had adecreased immune system, they would be susceptible todiseases.”