Visitor policies at one local hospital are changing again. Starting Monday, McLaren Port Huron will easing restrictions that were put in place due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Visitors will be allowed inside the hospital between the hours of 11am and 8pm for most departments with the exception of rooms treating patients with positive or pending COVID-19 tests. Special exceptions will be made for COVID-19 visitations will be made on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“It is a really big endeavor because the medical staff and emergency staff have to educate the public about (Personal Protection Equipment),” said Dr. John Brooks, Chief Medical Officer for McLaren Port Huron Hospital. “But we realize… it’s really important to get that emotional support t0 our patients for those couple of days.”
COVID patients can have one visitor at a time over the holidays following stringent Personal Protection Equipment adherence. All visitors will also be required to wear a mask when visiting the hospital and will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19. Brooks tells WPHM the changes in visitation policy are coinciding with a downward trend in new COVID-19 cases.
“The amount of St. Clair County looks like it peaked and we’re starting to see a slight decline,” said Brooks. The positivity rate for tests at McLaren has dropped from nearly 40% to 22% over the past five days according to Brooks. He also say the number of people being treated and being admitted with COVID-19 are also down. Brooks says that could change however, depending on how infective the new Omicron variant is.
