Northfield Hospital + Clinics has announced beginning Tuesday, November 17, 2020 no visitors will be allowed at Northfield Hospital for the safety of patients and staff.

Northfield Hospital + Clinics Chief Executive Officer Steve Underdahl says in a news release, "As COVID cases rise rapidly across the community, we must take precautions to protect the health environment of the hospital, and the health of our staff by limiting exposure to people who don't need to be in the hospital or clinic for their own care."

"The number of cases in the community and positivity rate of COVID tests in Rice and Dakota counties are at the highest point since the pandemic began," Underdahl added. "This precaution is more crucial now than at any time since the pandemic began."

Here are other details outlined in the news release from Northfield Hospital + Clinics.

As of Tuesday, November 17, 2020:

  • Medical/Surgical unit:  No visitors allowed.  Compassionate exemption may be made for a patient at end of life.  Pediatric patients may have on parent/guardian with them.  Patients with disabilities or dementia may have one adult support person with them.  Support person must be symptom-free and will be screened on entry, including temperature.
  • Emergency Department:  No visitors allowed.  Pediatric patients may have one parent/guardian with them.  Patients with disabilities or dementia may have one adult support person with them.  Support person must be symptom-free and will be screened on entry, including temperature.
  • Cancer Care and Infusion Center:  No visitors allowed.  Compassionate exemption may be made for a patient with new diagnosis, or at end of treatment.
  • Birth Center patients may have one adult support person; it must be the same person for the full stay.  Patients may choose their partner or doula. (A doula is not considered part of the medical team.)  Support person must by symptom-free.

Compassionate exemptions are decided on a case-by-case by the care team.  The care team will contact the patient's primary relative if this is appropriate.

These restrictions are consistent with metro hospitals through the Metro Health and Medical Preparedness Coalition.

In Northfield Hospital + Clinics:

  • Pediatric patients may have one parent or guardian; no siblings
  • People with disabilities or dimentia may have one support person
  • Pregnant patients may have one support person for the first OB appointment, and for OB ultrasounds

Support person must be symptom-free and will be screened on entry, including temperature.

NH+C first closed it's facilities to all visitors on March 20, 2020.  Visitor restrictions were loosened and re-tightened over the summer and fall, based on the number of COVID cases in Minnesota and the risk to patients and staff.

Systemwide precautions continue at all NH+C locations to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to care for all patients safely.

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