Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In response to decreased community spread of COVID-19, Vidant Health is expanding visitation in most clinical areas across the system, including for COVID-positive patients.

As of Wednesday morning, Vidant has adopted changes to its screening process, entry requirements and visitor guidelines.

“Visitors must wear surgical masks provided at screening stations or personal N95/KN95 masks as long as they are clean, intact, without a valve and have no visible gaps,” Vidant said in a release. “Despite the encouraging trend of cases, it remains vitally important for community members to continue to practicing safety measures such as washing hands, wearing a mask and avoiding large gatherings.”

If a visitor answers yes to any of the following questions, they may not enter a Vidant facility:

·      Have you tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days or waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test?

·      Have you had close contact with a person with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in the last 14 days?

·      Have you had any of these symptoms in the past 48 hours: Fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea; or any other symptoms of illness.

The entry requirements are as follows:

·      Temperature check: Temperature must be under 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

·      Masking: Wear a hospital-approved mask at all times in the building. Screeners will provide you a hospital mask if you do not have one. Cloth masks are not permitted.

·      Hand washing: Visitors must gel or use hand sanitizer on entry.

·      Social distancing: Avoid close contact with others.

·      Limit personal belongings during your visit.

·      Limit your visit to the patient room, and kindly do not go elsewhere in the hospital except for the Café.

“This is an evolving situation, and Vidant continues to monitor the spread and examine local data, including COVID-19 cases in our region and in hospitals, and will adjust visitation restrictions accordingly,” the press release reads. “Vidant strongly encourages visitors to consider virtual visitation options such as FaceTime and phone calls. Assistance with virtual visits, including iPads for patients without the necessary technology, is available on request. Virtual visitation is the safest way to stay connected with a loved one.”