March 16, 2020 9:30 a.m.
CHI Mercy Medical Center has revised its visitor policy to keep patients and staff safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Spokesperson Kathleen Nickel said that effective immediately, several changes have been made:
*All patients and visitors will be screened prior to entering the hospital.
*Patients will be limited to 2 visitors a day.
*Screening stations are at the visitor entrance, the patient entrance and at the entrance to the Emergency Department.
*Visiting hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
*After hours, Family Birthplace patients will continue to use the night entrance located by the south lobby. Visitors to the Family Birthplace will be screened and be limited to 2 adults. No children ages 17 and under will be admitted.
Nickel said all visitors must be illness free, with no fever or cough and meet all other criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said anyone who has a fever or cough or answers “yes” to any of the CDC screening questions will not be allowed into the hospital.
Nickel said due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, the policy may be updated.