FARMINGTON — Starting Wednesday, Franklin Memorial Hospital will implement new visitor restrictions in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Jill Gray, communications and public affairs manager said in a news release Tuesday.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington puts visitor restrictions in place, effective Wednesday. Donna Perry/Sun Journal

All visitors and escorts will be subject to screening for COVID-19 and anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to enter the hospital facilities, she advised. Visitors and escorts will be required to perform hand hygiene prior to entering and upon leaving the patient’s room or care area, they must wear a mask at all times in the facility and not go to anywhere other than the room of the patient they are visiting.

Hospital cafeterias will officially be closed to visitors, and they and escorts are not permitted on the hospital campus, except for the following:

Hospital inpatient areas:

• Two parents/guardians will be allowed in all pediatric areas, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing. In obstetrics two support people will be allowed during labor and delivery.

• All other inpatient areas, including critical care are restricted to one visitor per day for one visit during the specified visiting hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Exceptions may be made at the time of unit admission or for care plan discussions.

• Patients in palliative care/comfort measures will be allowed two visitors at a time during visiting hours managed by the care team.

• Up to four family members will be allowed to visit at a time for patients likely to expire within 24 hours. The hours will be managed by the care team.

• There will be no visitors for patients in isolation for COVID-19 infection or being evaluated for COVID-19 infection, except for end of life.

• Visitors will not be allowed in any units with an active COVID-19 outbreak.

• Adult patients being discharged may be picked up by one person at the department in which they are receiving care.

• Adult outpatients in the surgery or procedural areas may be picked up by one person at the department in which they are receiving care. Pediatric outpatients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.

• In the Emergency Department adult patients may be accompanied by one person, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing. Pediatric patients may be accompanied by two parents/guardians, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing. Exceptions may be made for care plan discussions as arranged with the care team or for end of life.

•Adult patients in the ambulatory/diagnostics area may be accompanied by one person, provided space is sufficient to achieve compliance with social distancing.

According to the release, the limitations are consistent with Franklin Memorial’s “commitment  to help prevent further community spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard our colleagues, patients and visitors, Franklin Memorial Hospital has implemented changes to our visitor policies,” Gray wrote.