Austin area hospitals are implementing a no visitor policy in an effort to protect patients, physicians, staff and community members as COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, spreads.
Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White and St. David’s Healthcare will implement the new policy Sunday.
“Our priority is to reduce the transmission risk within our sites of care,” a spokesperson for the hospitals said in a news release Saturday night. “While we understand the importance of having the support of loved ones during a hospital visit or stay, we must prioritize the health and safety of our patients and caregivers during this unprecedented pandemic.”
Exceptions to the policy will be made for laboring and post-partum patients; patients with disabilities or impairments or who are elderly; patients in the neonatal ICU and pediatrict patients; patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures; and patients requiring end-of-life care.
One caregiver 18 years or older can accompany these patients after passing a health-screening upon entrance to the facility, the release said.
Support persons are encouraged to use alternate forms of communication to stay in contact with loved ones, such as phone calls, video chats or texting, the release said.
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