Eisenhower Health announces new interim visitation guidelines, updates to come every Monday
Effective Wednesday, there will be no visitations allowed in the adult inpatient, surgery, special procedures unit and emergency departments at Eisenhower Health.
One healthy caregiver will be allowed to visit pediatric inpatient, the Family Birth Center and newborn intensive care unit, however.
Eisenhower Health has updated its visitation guidelines to change according to current COVID-19 transmission levels in the Coachella Valley. The current visitation restrictions are in place until Monday. The hospital will then review transmission levels and decide if guidelines will be adjusted or remain the same.
The community can find the current guidelines at https://eisenhowerhealth.org/patients-visitors/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know/visitor-restrictions-changes-in-hours/.
The COVID-19 positivity rate at the hospital is 40.6%, while the positivity rate in the Coachella Valley is 7%, as of Monday, according to hospital data.
"Eisenhower Health encourages patients to connect with their loved ones electronically via video chat, phone or text when the visitation restrictions are most restricted as we know that communicating with loved ones is an important part of a patient’s healing and recovery," said hospital spokeswoman Lee Rice in an email. "We thank our incredibly supportive community for their cooperation and understanding as we continue to provide the very best care for our patients."
Eisenhower Health visitors are required to wear facial coverings, not allowed in the cafeteria or common areas and need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours. They will also need to complete a temperature check and answer health questions.
Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: No visitors allowed in emergency, inpatient units at Eisenhower Health
