Sangamon Sun

St. John's Hospital Springfield Illinois issued the following announcement on Nov. 5.

As communities across Illinois are experiencing much higher rates in COVID-19 cases, HSHS St. John's Hospital is modifying its current visitor restrictions in the best interest of our patients and colleagues. The following changes will go into effect on Monday, November 2, 2020.

There will be no visitors allowed to our inpatient units, except for:

Women and Infants Center patients may have ONE support person.

Pediatric inpatients under the age of 18 may have TWO parents or guardians present.

All patients nearing end-of-life will have special arrangements made on a case-by-case basis.

Patients with intellectual and/or developmental disability or cognitive impairments may have one support person.

Emergency department adult patients may have ONE approved support person with the patient for their duration in the emergency department. If the adult patient becomes admitted, inpatient restrictions would apply, and no visitors will be allowed. COVID-19 positives or persons under investigation (PUI) would not have visitors unless special circumstances are necessary.

Emergency department pediatric patients may have TWO parents or guardians present for their duration in the emergency department.

For outpatient appointments and/or procedures, including pediatric patients, ONE approved adult support person may be with the patient for the duration of their procedure or clinical visit. If the patient becomes admitted, inpatient restrictions would apply, and no visitors will be allowed.

“We understand this no-visitor restriction is extremely difficult, especially for those who have loved ones in the hospital with severe health issues,” said Gurpreet Mander, HSHS Illinois chief physician executive. “But along with many other hospitals across the nation, we are taking this step to keep our patients, colleagues and community as safe as possible.”

Approved visitors must be over the age of 18 and will continue to be screened upon entering the facility for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure.

Family members and loved ones should provide nursing staff with their contact information and may call the hospital’s main number to check on their loved ones.

Original source can be found here.