PROVIDENCE – Women & Infants Hospital and Kent County Memorial Hospital have updated visitation restrictions in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island.
Both hospitals are owned by Care New England Health System.
As of Dec. 31 at Women & Infants, most patients are allowed just one visitor, although babies in the neonatal intensive care unit may have two people stay with them.
Women who are giving birth may have one person with them, along with a pre-designated doula.
Visitors must remain in patients’ rooms unless they are going to pick up food within the hospital. Once visitors leave, they are not allowed back inside the building.
Patients in the ambulatory surgery wing must go alone unless an exception is prearranged. People having diagnostic imaging done may have one person with them.
Restrictions are tighter at Kent Hospital in Warwick, where no visitors have been allowed since Dec. 30. Exceptions include women giving birth, people with special needs and end-of-life situations.
Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.
