WellSpan Health updated its visitation policy on Tuesday to tighten visitation to its facilities as Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 positive cases continue to rise.
It is the first time that the system has paused visitation to its facilities since opening for limited visits in early June.
The York-based hospital system issued a statement saying the policy change was for the safety of its patients, visitors and staff. WellSpan will prohibit visitors from its emergency department patient areas and all other departments unless specified otherwise.
Expectant mothers and end-of-life patients may continue to have one support person. Pediatric patients may have two healthy parents or guardians with them.
Any visitors permitted to enter the hospital must pass a health screening, which includes answering questions about their health related to COVID-19. Visitors over 2 must also wear a face covering during their stay at the facility.
Despite growing cases of COVID-19 across the state, the Wolf administration has yet to issue its own recommendation for hospitals to close visitations to their facilities.