UnityPoint Health® – Trinity elevates visitor limitations due to COVID-19 resurgence

UnityPoint Health® – Trinity is elevating its current visitor limitations, until further notice, to further protect patients and health care workers due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the community.

“We recognize there are times when having a visitor or family member present is crucial,” the hospital system said in a news release. “In these cases, visitors will be allowed based on the exceptions listed below effective Thursday, July 16. These exceptions apply to all hospital and inpatient locations of UnityPoint Health – Trinity:”

• Obstetric patients may have one partner and one birth support person accompany them.
• Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients may have one birth parent plus one significant other who must remain in the room for the duration of the visit.
• Patients who are at the end-of-life, or discussing end-of-life care decisions, may have two visitors.
• Patients with disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care, may have one visitor.
• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays (where caregiver provides safety) may have one visitor.
• Minors under the age of 18 may have one visitor, parent, or guardian.
• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures may have one visitor stay in the surgical waiting area or ambulatory room until the procedure is finished. After speaking with the surgeon following the procedure, the visitor must leave the hospital as soon as possible.
• Patients who have an appointment at a hospital-based clinic, laboratory, or radiology, as well as those visiting the Emergency Room (ER), may have one person with them.

Visitors allowed, based on the exceptions above, must stay in the patient’s room and wear a mask the entire time of their visit. Once the visitor leaves the patient room, they must leave the hospital. Please note that visitors will not be allowed for patients with a pending or positive COVID-19 test.

“We understand these changes may impose an inconvenience to families, but they are important steps to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible,” the release said. “Limiting visitors to our hospitalized patients will keep them safe while in our care. The community is encouraged to continue practicing social distancing, masking, and perform frequent hand hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

For more ways to protect against the spread of COVID-19, and for the latest updates and guidance in this evolving situation, please visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control, Iowa Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, or call the Illinois COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931, or in the Iowa COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-362-2736.

This story originally appeared on the Voice of Muscatine. Read More local stories here.