(WWJ) – Beaumont Health System has changed its visitor policy as the number of COVID-19 in metro Detroit and across the state continues to climb.
State health officials on Wednesday announced a new daily case record after nearly 26,000 confirmed over the two previous days.
Officials say the rising positivity rates have "prompted Beaumont Health to take additional steps to protect inpatients, staff and visitors" at all eight of the system's hospitals.
Here's what you need to know about Beaumont's updated visitor policies, which will go into effect Friday, Dec. 31 at 8 a.m.:
• Everyone will be required to wear masks covering the nose and mouth at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
• Patients who do not have COVID-19 and are not suspected of having the virus will continue to be allowed one visitor or support person each day, regardless of vaccination status.
• However, under the new guidelines, the support person or visitor cannot alternate with other people throughout the day, without approval from clinical leadership. This includes postpartum patients.
• No one will be allowed in rooms of patients with pending or positive COVID-19 tests except for individuals who are approaching the end-of-life, patients 21 years of age and under, women in labor, or other extreme circumstances where the benefits of presence outweigh the risk of COVID-19 exposure. All exceptions must be approved by clinical leadership.
• For all Beaumont emergency center patients, one support person can stay with the patient until the patient is in the evaluation and treatment process. However, if a support person is unable to stay due to facility constraints identified by the hospital leadership, the support person must return to their vehicle and will be provided with a phone number to call and check on the patient's status.
• After a support person joins a patient in their room, they must stay in the room for the duration of the visit.
• Each visitor will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering the building. Every visitor must also be free of COVID-19 symptoms and cannot be waiting for COVID-19 test results.
• After a visit is complete, the support person or visitor must leave the hospital and cannot remain in waiting areas, public areas or cafeterias.
Beaumont officials say they will continue to evaluate visitation policies and procedures and update the guidelines as needed.
