Trinity Health is stepping up visitor restrictions at its outpatient and clinic facilities due to a surge in community spread of COVID-19. North Dakota recently deemed all counties at high risk for transmission of the virus.
Effective Monday, November 16, no visitors will be allowed to accompany a patient being seen in a Trinity Health outpatient location except in a limited number of circumstances. Visitors who do meet an exception criterion must be an adult who is asymptomatic.
Exceptions to the no-visitor policy include:
- Pediatric clinic – limit one parent or guardian or two if there is a lifting restriction
- OB/GYN clinic – limit one asymptomatic adult visitor to accompany patient with lifting restrictions
- Home caregiver – limit one caregiver who must remain in room for duration of training/education
- Surgical patient – limit one support person before and immediately after procedure
- Wheelchair transport – limit one caregiver for transport
- Power of Attorney – limit one documented POA
- Minor patient – limit one parent or guardian
- CancerCare Center – limit one asymptomatic adult with each patient
All persons entering a Trinity Health outpatient facility are required to wear a face covering unless the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends otherwise. According to the CDC, cloth face coverings should not be placed on children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated.
Outpatient facilities implementing the stricter outpatient visitor guidelines include Health Center – Medical Arts, Health Center – East, Health Center – West, Health Center – Town & Country, the CancerCare Center, Health Center – Riverside, Plaza 16, Trinity Health South Ridge, Trinity Health East Ridge, dialysis clinics at Trinity Hospital – St. Joseph’s and Belcourt, and community clinics in Williston, Velva, Mohall, Kenmare, Garrison, and New Town.