Starting Monday, Dec. 14, Lee Health is making changes to its hospital visitation hours to protect the safety of patients and staff from the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in our community. Visitation hours are noon to 6 p.m. until the number of COVID-19 cases reduce.

At the adult acute care hospital campuses, patients will now be allowed to designate up to two visitors upon admission, but only one may visit the patient at a time. No visitors under the age of 12 are permitted. Exceptions will be made for compassionate care reasons.

All visitors are required to practice physical distancing, complete a health screening, temperature check and thoroughly sanitize their hands with alcohol-based gel before visitation. Visitors are also required to bring their own mask or face covering, and wear it all times while in a Lee Health Facility. Ventilated masks are not allowed as they let expelled breath into the air.

Visitation to any COVID-19 units or patients requiring airborne precautions (in an isolated room because they are potentially infectious) will continue to be restricted to compassionate care.Compassionate care generally refers to end-of-life situations to give family members the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones, but can cover other areas depending on individual circumstances.Compassionate care visitation is at the discretion of hospital leadership.

“Visitation is an important part of a patient’s recovery and we understand these restrictions are a hardship. We ask the community for their understanding as we implement necessary measures to keep people safe during this critical time,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, Lee Health president & CEO. “We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and health care workers.”

In outpatient facilities, adult patients are allowed one visitor to accompany them to their appointments. For surgeries, a visitor can accompany a patient to registration and then reunite with them in the recovery room.

Golisano Children’s Hospital visitation hours will remain the same; one parent/guardian at the bedside 24 hours per day and one additional visitor over the age of 12 during normal visitation hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For children admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 or while in the Pediatric Emergency Department, one parent/guardian is permitted to stay with their child at all times.

During the visitation restriction, frontline health care workers will be able to utilize technology to help patients interact with their loved ones virtually. Virtual visitation will remain an option for patients who are unable to have in-person visitors or want to connect with other loved ones besides the designated visitor.

For more information about Lee Health, visit LeeHealth.org.