CentraCare in St. Cloud reinstating visitor restrictions due to increase in COVID-19 cases
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2020, file photo, registered nurses Robin Gooding, left, and Johanna Ortiz treat a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. California surpassed 25,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic, reporting the grim milestone Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, as it continues to face a surge that has swamped hospitals and pushed nurses and doctors to the breaking point as they brace for an anticipated surge after the holidays.[Jae C. Hong/Associated Press]
CentraCare Health, headquartered in St. Cloud, is reinstating visitor restrictions at multiple facilities once again after a surge of positive COVID-19 cases in surrounding communities.
The restrictions go into effect on Tuesday.
According to the restrictions, one healthy adult visitor will be allowed per patient in CentraCare and Carris Health hospital settings. The visitor must also be the same person. This updates the previous policy that allowed two healthy adult visitors.
However, for juvenile patients, two healthy adult visitors are allowed. In all other settings, including clinics, the visitor policy remains one healthy adult visitor per adult patient and two healthy adult visitors for juvenile patients.
In addition, all visitors must wear masks, whether vaccinated or not.
As of Tuesday, all 87 counties remained at a high level of COVID-19 spread, due to the insurgence of the delta variant.
These guidelines do not include CentraCare’s long-term care facilities because of different regulations for vulnerable populations.