COLUMBUS - The city of Columbus held another joint press conference with school and health officials Tuesday morning, giving a community update on the coronavirus.

Columbus Community Hospital said it's in good shape in preparing supplies and test equipment, but that it's still asking the public to continue doing its part.

“We’re here for you and we’re ready to take on the wave that is going to come, but what we’re asking you to do is stay home," President and CEO Mike Hansen said.  "The mayor talked about social distancing, so that’s critically important right now in the window that we have to really try to flatten that curve.”

While Mayor Jim Bulkley said there are no cases in the area, CCH said it assumes the virus is in the community.

The hospital said it can't test everyone, otherwise it would exhaust its resources.  So it's limiting testing to those who have traveled regionally, have symptoms, have been exposed to someone they know has the virus and those likely to have complications from the illness.

“I would love to have an in-house test where I can just test everybody," emergency room director Dr. Mark Howerter said.  "From a surveillance standpoint, that’d be wonderful.  That’d be ideal.  We’re not in that situation.”

Dr. Howerter said for everyone’s protection, starting Wednesday, CCH will have a drive-up triage outside of the hospital.  There, staff can determine if people need to go to the emergency room and even test for the coronavirus.