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Michigan Medicine implements visitor restrictions amid rising COVID-19 cases

Posted at 8:16 AM, Nov 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-17 08:16:53-05

(WXYZ) — Michigan Medicine announced Tuesday it has implemented visitor restrictions at its hospitals and clinics as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Related: Michigan health leaders: 'Not only are the numbers alarming, people are dying'

The hospital group is the latest in southeast Michigan to implement restrictions, following Beaumont, Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health System.

It's the second time this year that visitor restrictions have been implemented. Those restrictions started being eased about 3 months after the pandemic began.

No visitors are allowed at Michigan Medicine with emergency department patients, except when medically necessary.

The number of visitors at adult hospitals and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital has not changed. One visitor per day is allowed for every adult and two for pediatric patients.

Family and other visitors have to wear a mask at all properties.

No visitors are allowed with adult emergency department patients, except when medically necessary.

In clinics, no visitors will be allowed for adult patients unless the patient has a cognitive or physical impairment that requires assistance.

There are some exceptions for end-of-life care, labor and delivery and other situations. You can view those here.

“We recognize the critical role that visitors – families and friends – play in the well-being of our patients. However, as the spread of COVID-19 hits record-setting levels across the state, we need to minimize the risk of transmission,” said Laraine Washer, M.D., Michigan Medicine’s medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology.

“Our top priority is the safety of our patients and our staff. We hope that by adding these restrictions, we will better protect everyone from COVID-19,” Washer said. “We need to continue to keep our Michigan Medicine facilities safe for all of our patients.”

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.

Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.