Queens hospitals clamp down on visitation amid Omicron rise
/
Hospitals in Queens are implementing restrictions on visitors amid the spike in COVID cases. Photo Courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
By Rachel Vick
Across New York City, hospitals are limiting visitors as COVID-19 cases climb.
Starting Dec. 22, NYC Health + Hospitals patients are only allowed visitors in specific or extreme circumstances out of an abundance of caution, according to officials.
“To address the new threats posed to our patients and staff by the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant, NYC Health + Hospitals has temporarily suspended patient visitations system-wide with few exceptions,” the hospital said in a statement. “The City’s public health system has kept its patients, staff, and community members’ best interests at the forefront of all decisions made throughout the pandemic, ensuring we continue to provide the safest environment for those in need of healthcare.”
Exceptions include patients in Labor and Delivery or Pediatrics and those nearing end of life.
Patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and those with cognitive impairments including dementia will also be allowed visitors.
Visitors who are allowed will have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test within 24 hours of the visit.
According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state has broken its single day record for positive cases for the fourth day in a row, and other hospitals operating in Queens are adjusting to the changing medical landscape.
At St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Rockaway, Emergency Room visitors will be limited to parents accompanying a minor or a designated care partner for individuals who require support, and in “imminent medical situations,” according to a spokesperson.
New policies go into effect at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center on Dec. 23, when medical and surgical unit patients can have two visitors above the age of 18 come one at a time each day for up to four hours within the visiting hours window.
All will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours.
In the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, two parents or support persons can visit at the same time 24 hours a day. In the Postpartum unit, a support person and Support person is permitted 24-hour visitation and a postpartum doula are permitted 24-hour visitation, and two other guests will be allowed individually with the same restrictions mentioned above.
In Labor and Delivery, two support individuals and a doula will still have 24-hour visitation, but if the patient is COVID positive they can only have on support and a doula. There will be no other visitors allowed in the recovery room.
No visitors will be allowed in the adult Emergency Department.
Similar restrictions will be implemented in Flushing Hospital Thursday, with two-person timed limits for Medical Surgical Units and partner-only visitation for Postpartum patients.
A representative from Northwell did not respond to request for comment before print
