Effective Wednesday, March 2, Bothwell Regional Health Center  announced it will relax the visitor restrictions at the hospital and in clinics and return to pre-COVID-19 visiting hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – however, universal masking will still be required.

According to a news release, while the CDC has relaxed masking in indoor settings for communities, the guidance does not apply to health care settings.

Hospital officials say there will be no restrictions on the number of visitors for COVID-negative patients in the inpatient nursing units. Patients who are COVID-19 positive will be allowed visitors, with the exception of care purposes, end-of-life, special circumstances or patients who are children or who have disabilities.

The  Emergency Department and Same-Day Surgery Unit are scheduled to allow one visitor at a time per patient at bedside due to space constraints. The Cancer Center outpatients may have one support person at a time in the cancer infusion locations.

The Women’s Health and Newborn Care has differing policies for its three units that include Labor and Delivery, postpartum rooms and NICU depending on a patient’s health status.

• In Labor and Delivery, patients who test negative for COVID-19 may designate two birth support persons who are welcome at all times. COVID-positive patients may designate one birth support person who is welcome at all times. Covid testing for birth support persons has been suspended.
• In postpartum rooms, patients who test negative for COVID-19 may have unlimited visitors with a maximum of three people recommended in the room at one time. COVID-positive patients may have only their one designated birth support person that was present in Labor and Delivery.
• IN the NICU Nursery, only the mother and her primary designated support person are allowed in.

All visitors are required to enter the hospital through the main entrance. Upon entrance, visitors must wear a surgical/higher-grade mask or masks will be available.

Officials say the southwest doors are scheduled to remain closed except for Cardiac Rehab patients arriving for designated appointments.

Visit www.brhc.org/visitors for all details.