Philly Leader

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently issued the following announcement.

UPDATED VISITOR RESTRICTIONS: To keep our patients, families and staff safe from the coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory viral infections, we ask you to reduce the number of parents or caregivers as much as possible to all Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia sites. Our current COVID-19 restricted visitation policy is that no more than two healthy parents or caregivers (18 and over) are allowed to visit patients in the hospital or accompany patients to any appointment at a CHOP location. Parents and caregivers cannot be ill (must be without fever, cough or other concerning symptoms), nor have testing pending for COVID-19.

Our COVID-19 restricted visitor procedures are in place during this rapidly changing situation as the prevalence of COVID-19 continues to increase in our community. Since some people may show no or very few symptoms when infected, we want to partner with patients and families to reduce spread of the virus as much as possible.

What you need to know:

• Please reduce the number of parents and caregivers who go between CHOP facilities and their home/community. Our current COVID-19 restricted visitation policy is that no more than two healthy parents or caregivers (18 and over) will be allowed to visit patients in the hospital or accompany patients to any appointment at a CHOP location. Whenever possible, to reduce the risk of exposure, we highly recommend that only one healthy parent or caregiver accompany their child.
• Adult parents/caregivers must be healthy to keep our patients safe from illness, as well as our staff. Ill parents, or those with COVID-19 testing pending, cannot be in the hospital or any other CHOP facility. If both parents/caregivers are not healthy, we recommend identifying an alternate caregiver or partnering with our staff to support your child.
• Siblings are not permitted to visit. We understand how difficult it can be to make child care arrangements and plan for siblings. We are asking for your partnership in making sure that all siblings stay home. Breastfeeding infants are permitted to be present with their parent. 
• Help us reduce the spread of COVID-19. During inpatient stays we ask you to be mindful of the number of times you leave and re-enter the hospital. We highly recommend that only one parent or caregiver stay at the bedside at any given time. Some families have considered taking turns at the bedside for 24 hours and then handing off to the other parent/caregiver the next day.
• These guidelines include visits to our Emergency Department and outpatient visits in our ambulatory clinics and care network locations. Again, we highly recommend that only one healthy caregiver accompany your child. If you need to urgently bring your child to the Emergency Department, please ask a friend, family member or adult caregiver to help you take care of other children.
• Based on CDC recommendations for the public, CHOP now asks that all parents and caregivers visiting a CHOP facility wear a non-medical mask (or cloth mask) as an extra layer of protection. Parents and caregivers visiting the inpatient units and the Emergency Department will be provided with a disposable mask along with a storage bag and instructions. We appreciate your support in wearing a mask to help keep everyone safe.
• Families will need to notify any friends or relatives planning on visiting of this change in procedures, and ask them to stay home.
• We also ask all caregivers to do the following:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
  • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose or mouth if you don’t have clean hands.
  • Avoid crowded areas and practice physical distancing (at least six feet) if you need to be out of your home.
• If you are coming from New York City and neighboring counties (or another geographical region where residents are being told to self-isolate) we are requiring you to stay in your child’s room and limit visitation to a single caregiver. For the safety of your child and all of our patients, families and staff, if you leave the hospital you will not be able to re-enter until your 14-day quarantine is over. We are in this together and we appreciate you partnering with us on these special guidelines.

These guidelines will be continuously evaluated related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We understand this is a difficult time and want you to know that we are here to help. Thank you for your partnership and support in helping us keep our patients, families and staff safe. If you have questions related to COVID-19 please call the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline at 1-800-722-7112.

Original source can be found here.