Atlantic General Hospital Announces Changes to Visitation

Due to an increase in community spread of COVID-19, Atlantic General Hospital and Health System will no longer allow visitors, effective 6 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. These restrictions will be in place until further notice.

Individuals receiving care at the hospital, outpatient facilities or physician offices are asked to come alone. Exceptions will be made in special circumstances in accordance with the organization’s CARE values, allowing for:

• Personal caregivers in accordance with ADA guidelines for all patients with physical, intellectual, developmental and cognitive disabilities,
• One accompanying family member/significant other for patients in the emergency room around the clock (no visitation for those patients known to have COVID-19 or those under investigation for the virus)
• Parents of a minor child, and
• Special arrangements for visitation of dying patients

“The support of loved ones is very important to the healing process, so the decision to suspend visitation once again was not an easy one,” said Matt Morris, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Atlantic General Hospital. “Keeping our patients and staff safe is the primary concern.”

According to Atlantic General Hospital and Health System’s COVID-19 visitation policy, a 7-day rolling average community positivity rate of 5% or greater requires closure to visitors. On Tuesday, November 18, the 7-day rolling average positivity rate for Worcester County was 5.7%. For Sussex County, Delaware, the 14-day average was 7.4%.

Loved ones are encouraged to stay in touch with hospitalized patients by phone or video chat. Staff are available to support communication with friends and family.

For more information about Atlantic General’s visitation guidelines and COVID-19 response, please visit www.agh.care/COVID19.