St. Elizabeth’s Hospital tightens restrictions on visitors, with some exceptions
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St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon is restricting the number of visitors allowed inside as coronavirus begins to spread through the community.
Only patients in obstetrics, hospice, surgery or the emergency room are allowed a single visitor. One parent or guardian will also be able to visit their children if the child is younger than 18 years old and receiving inpatient services in pediatrics.
The hospital is also making an exception for patients with outpatient procedures to have a visitor if they need help getting to their car, possibly in a wheelchair.
St. Elizabeth’s said the restriction on visitors takes effect Friday. People can continue to check in on their family and friends who are patients at the hospital by calling 618-234-2120.
Patients may also have access to iPads soon to communicate with family and friends electronically.
“Prior to last week, positive cases in our region were travel-related but now that community spread has been identified, these added restrictions are being put in place,” a news release announcing the change states.
St. Elizabeth’s is caring for a man in his 50s who tested positive for the COVID-19 respiratory illness known as coronavirus in St. Clair County. The man is in isolation inside the hospital. His illness was announced by state health officials on Wednesday.
Two St. Clair County women, one her in 60s and another in her 70s, have also tested positive. They traveled to Europe and Asia, where it is believed they contracted the virus. When county officials announced that the women had coronavirus on March 14, they said the women were quarantined at home.
Earlier this week, other hospitals announced similar restrictions on visitors, including Memorial hospitals in Belleville and Shiloh, Touchette Regional Hospital, Anderson Hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 12:30 PM.
