Submitted by Amanda Falcone.
(August 5, 2021) — MIDDLETOWN — Due to an increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate in Connecticut and emergence of the Delta COVID-19 variant, Middlesex Health is, once again, tightening its visitor policy. The changes go into effect today. This decision was made to keep patients, employees and visitors safe.
Most Middlesex Health locations, including Middlesex Hospital, outpatient locations and ambulatory settings, will now allow only one visitor per day. All visitors must wear a face mask at all times, 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 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 6:30 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.
Emergency Department patients can now have one visitor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and these visitors should enter through the Emergency Department entrance. Pregnancy and Birth Center patients may have one visitor per day in addition to their primary support person.
There are some exceptions to these rules. They include:
- Visitors making compassionate care visits (maximum of two visitors at a time)
- Visitors making disability care visits
- Birthing partners for Pregnancy and Birth Center patients
- Visitors accompanying 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.
Patients on respiratory precautions, such as presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patients, will not be allowed visitors. Middlesex Hospital’s inpatient behavioral health unit is also not allowing visitors at this time.
For more information about Middlesex Health’s revised visitor policy, visit MiddlesexHealth.org/visitor policy.
Pre-Procedure COVID-19 Testing
In addition to tightening its visitor policy, Middlesex Health announced today that it will, once again, test all patients for COVID-19 two to three days before a surgical procedure regardless of whether they have symptoms of COVID-19 and regardless of their vaccination status.
In June, because of a very low positivity rate, the health system stopped testing all surgery patients for COVID-19, but it did continue to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 and require proof of vaccination. Testing was performed as needed. Now, because of an increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate and the Delta variant, Middlesex will resume pre-procedure COVID-19 testing beginning August 11.
Patients who need pre-procedure testing will be notified, and they will have the option of going to any Middlesex Health lab collection facility.
