Submitted by Amanda Falcone.
MIDDLETOWN — Due to the increase in Connecticut’s COVID-19 positivity rate, Middlesex Health is tightening its visitor policy. The changes go into effect today.
All Middlesex Health locations, including Middlesex Hospital, outpatient locations and ambulatory settings, will now allow 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, will not be allowed visitors.
All visitors must wear a face mask at all times, including in patient rooms, and they will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
Per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), face masks are still required in health care settings. You must wear a mask while at a Middlesex Health facility regardless of whether you’ve been vaccinated.
Visiting hours at Middlesex Hospital, located at 28 Crescent Street in Middletown, are 10 a.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.
Visiting hours for Middlesex Hospital’s inpatient behavioral health unit are different. Patients staying on this unit may receive visitors seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors must be 16 or older. Patients are allowed one visitor per day, and the visitor must be the same person for both timeframes each day.
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.
For more information about Middlesex Health’s revised visitor policy, visit MiddlesexHealth.org.
