Jacksonville hospitals are reinstituting stricter visitation policies as Duval County COVID-19 cases spike.
Beginning July 10, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Baptist Health and UF Health Jacksonville will revert their visitation policies to allow for one or two visitors per patient in special cases or suspending it in other cases.
Ascension St. Vincent’s will allow visitation only in certain circumstances, including for pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit patients, patients with disabilities, women giving birth, patients receiving end-of-life care, patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures or those presenting to the emergency room.
One visitor is allowed in those cases.
Visitors must be at least 18 years old, have their temperature checked at the door and will not be allowed in if they are symptomatic or have a fever. Masks are required.
Beginning 8 a.m. July 10, Baptist Health is allowing one visitor per patient, per day, for adult inpatient surgery or labor and delivery. Two visitors are allowed for patients in hospice care or receiving end-of-life care. Visitation for other patients is suspended.
“Our team is continually refining our processes to battle this pandemic,” said Brett McClung, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “The decision to reduce visitation today is best for the health and safety of our community.”
UF Health Jacksonville is suspending patient visitation with several exceptions. Effective July 5, the hospital began considering visitation exceptions for patients in end-of-life situations, for visitors who are authorized to make care decisions for patients, parents or guardians of pediatric patients, or spouses and partners of labor and delivery patients.
Visitors will be screened upon entry.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is allowing one visitor per patient between noon and 8 p.m. Exceptions can be made for patients in end-of-life care, for children and “other rare and unique circumstances,” its website said.
Memorial Hospital is allowing one visitor for surgery, ER and maternity patients as well as in-patients.