Salem Hospital Suspends Visitations Amid Coronavirus Surge

Salem MA

15 December, 2020

4:31 PM

Description

SALEM, MA — North Shore Medical Center will prohibit most patient visitations beginning Wednesday because of what it called "rising COVID-19 infections in our community." There are some limited exceptions to the visitor ban that includes parents or guardians of patients under 18 years old and attorneys of patients with physical and mental disabilities. One support person will be allowed to be present, visit and support those in the birthplace. Two parents, or one parent and one support person, may accompany and visit a newborn in the special care nursery. Designated visitors must be over 18 years, wear a mask throughout their visit and pass a daily COVID-19 screening before entering Salem Hospital. The new guidelines come on the same day Gov. Charlie Baker asked state residents to reconsider any travel and spending Christmas with any friends or family members who are not members of their own household following a case spike since Thanksgiving. 8 MA Towns Split From State Rules, Roll Back Reopening FurtherDespite Coronavirus Surge, Most Boston Hospitals Have Space Before Thanksgiving, the state's positive test rate had held steady between 2 and 3 percent per day. Since then, it has risen to 5.7 percent. During the same time period, the average number of daily, confirmed cases has increased 96 percent, hospitalizations are up 93 percent and 689 people have died — an increase of 84 percent. "I don't need to tell anyone these aren't just numbers. They're people, and they're stories, and they're relationships," Baker said. "Those data points do speak to how COVID-19 moves. Many people have light or no symptoms at all, but at the same time they can make other people horribly ill." More information on Salem Hospital's visitor guidelines can be found here.