Submitted by Amanda Falcone, Public Relations Director, Middlesex Health.
MIDDLETOWN (Dec. 22, 2021) — With COVID-19 numbers on the rise, Middlesex Health is changing its visiting hours and encouraging patients to communicate with loved ones virtually. The changes go into effect today.
Visiting hours at Middlesex Hospital, located at 28 Crescent Street in Middletown, are now 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — both on the weekdays and during the weekend. Visitors must register at the front desk in the hospital lobby and be 16 or older unless granted special permission.
Regardless of whether they are vaccinated, all visitors must wear a face mask at all times while at any Middlesex Health facility, including in patient rooms. Visitors in patients’ rooms who are found not wearing their masks will be asked to leave the facility. There are no exceptions to this rule. All visitors will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
All Middlesex Health locations, including Middlesex Hospital, outpatient locations and ambulatory settings, are allowing patients one visitor per day unless they are on respiratory precautions, such as presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patients. Patients on respiratory precautions, such as presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patients, are not allowed visitors. The hospital’s inpatient behavioral unit is also not allowing visitors at this time.
One visitor can accompany Middlesex Health’s Emergency Department patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It must be the same person throughout the patient’s stay, and they can enter through the Emergency Department entrance. Pregnancy and Birth Center patients may have one visitor throughout their stay in addition to their primary support person.
There are some exceptions to these rules. They include:
- Visitors making compassionate care visits
- Visitors making disability care visits
- Birthing partners for Pregnancy and Birth Center patients
- Pediatric patients
- Clergy visits (Members of the clergy should not visit patients who are on special respiratory precautions unless it is a compassionate visit.)
Visitors arriving under these special circumstances may visit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If they arrive when the hospital lobby is closed, they should go to the Emergency Department main entrance.
As a reminder, in lieu of in-person visits, patients and their families may opt to communicate virtually. The use of FaceTime or Google Duo on personal devices is encouraged. Using Zoom on health system iPads may also be an option.
