St. Joseph Health System has recently updated its guidelines for visitors at the hospitals in Mishawaka and Plymouth.
Effective immediately one unique visitor will be permitted per day for patients who are not under investigation for or diagnosed with COVID-19. Visitors must meet specific qualifications:
- Be 18 years old or older
- Wear a face mask during entire visit, including when inside patient’s room
- Be free of symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea)
- Pass COVID-19 screening procedures
- Frequently wash hands or use sanitizer
- When possible, maintain social distancing of six feet from others
- Limit movement throughout the hospital to only what is minimally required for the visit
For patients who are at the end of life situations and not under investigation for or diagnosed with COVID-19:
- Two individuals visitors are permitted to be with the patient at a time
- Video conferencing is available for those who do not meet the visitor qualifications or upon request
Visitors are not permitted for patients who have tested positive or are under investigation for COVID-19.
Exceptions for this policy include when a visitor is accompanying a minor or an adult with developmental or cognitive impairments. For those cases, one unique visitor is permitted for the entirety of the patient’s stay.
For end of life situations for patients under investigation for or diagnosed with COVID-19, two individual visitors will be permitted at a time.
Video conferencing is available for those who do not meet visitor qualifications or upon request.
Visitors of COVID-19 patients will be required to wear PPE during the visit.
