Fly well! New on-site health clinic to open at John Wayne Airport this spring

Plane tickets? Check.

Neck pillow? Check.

Baggage? Checked!

Health screening? Uh. Well, maybe not check. But don’t worry — starting this spring, passengers and employees will be able to go to an on-site health clinic at John Wayne Airport for information and services such as rapid COVID-19 testing and immunizations just across from Gate 10 at Terminal B post-security.

The airport, in partnership with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, announced Monday that construction is underway for the Fly Well Clinic. The 850-square-foot facility is permanent and hospital officials said there would be an on-site health care provider.

The clinic itself will also offer treatment of cold and flu symptoms; virtual reality demonstrations, including relaxation and mindfulness; blood pressure and other screenings; and on-demand telehealth.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world’s travel habits, shining a spotlight brighter than ever on passengers’ health and travel safety,” said Marcy Brown, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Hoag. “Hoag wanted to provide airport guests, employees and tenants with access to high quality health care services and resources for overall wellness.”

In a statement, Hoag president and chief executive officer Robert Braithwaite said, “Hoag is proud to partner with John Wayne Airport to address the health care needs of the 10 million people who fly to or from the airport every year.”

Brown said airport officials first reached out to Hoag last year, proposing the possibility of an urgent care facility. They’d begun to discuss and brainstorm for ideas when the statewide stay-at-home order to curb the coronavirus pandemic was issued in March.

The Orange County Health Care Agency reported an additional 295 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 63,460. The agency also recorded six new deaths, two being skilled nursing facility residents, one assisted living facility resident and three not living in a facility. This brings the total to 1,520.

Area hospitals currently said they are treating 251 cases. About 89 are in intensive care units. An estimated 55,777 have recovered.

Conversations picked up again this summer and Brown said that construction is already underway on the Fly Well clinic. The first phase is scheduled for completion in December. But in advance of the clinic, Hoag is hosting a pop-up health fair. It started on Nov. 9 and provides travelers with complimentary flu vaccinations, nutrition and exercise tips and virtual reality demonstrations.

“We are all excited to be launching this for the community before the holidays,” Brown said.

“John Wayne Airport continually innovates to help our guests connect to their travel destination in a way that is safe and secure, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our mission,” Airport Director Barry Rondinella said in a statement.

Brown declined to comment on its cost and its financing.

“As the highest-ranked health care provider in Orange County, Hoag is uniquely positioned to address our guests’ specific health care needs, as well as the needs of the nearly 900 people who work at the airport,” Rondinella said. “We are excited by what the Fly Well Clinic will mean to airport guests, employees and tenants.”

Here are the latest cumulative coronavirus case counts and COVID-19 deaths for select cities in Orange County:

• Santa Ana: 12,145 cases; 323 deaths
• Anaheim: 10,875 cases; 327 deaths
• Huntington Beach: 2,781 cases; 86 deaths
• Costa Mesa: 2,165 cases; 45 deaths
• Irvine: 2,098 cases; 14 deaths
• Newport Beach: 1,311 cases; 26 deaths
• Fountain Valley: 627 cases; 21 deaths
• Laguna Beach: 264 cases; fewer than five deaths

Here are the case counts by age group, followed by deaths:

• 0 to 17: 4,820 cases; one death
• 18 to 24: 9,475 cases; five deaths
• 25 to 34: 13,601 cases; 21 deaths
• 35 to 44: 10,092 cases; 40 deaths
• 45 to 54: 10,219 cases; 118 deaths
• 55 to 64: 7,638 cases; 210 deaths
• 65 to 74: 3,863 cases; 301 deaths
• 75 to 84: 2,093 cases; 329 deaths
• 85 and older: 1,611 cases; 495 deaths

Updated figures are posted daily at occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc. For information on getting tested, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/covid-19-testing.

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