Northwest Health announces new visitor restrictions

Keeping everyone safe remains the first priority at Northwest Health and its hospitals in Knox, La Porte and Valparaiso. Based on the decrease in positive COVID-19 cases in the communities served by Northwest Health – La Porte, Northwest Health – Porter and Northwest Health Starke, the following changes to the hospitals’ visitor restrictions went into effect Feb. 3.

The new visitor restrictions are as follows:

In all situations:

Face masks are required at all times.

All visitors must be 18 years of age or older and will be screened upon entry.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted to enter unless they are seeking medical care.

All visitors are asked to practice social distancing, hand hygiene and infection prevention:

Sanitize hands when entering the hospital and when entering or exiting patient rooms.

Cover coughs or sneezes with elbow or a tissue and dispose of used tissues in the trash.

Sanitize hands after coughing or sneezing.

Hospitals:

One visitor: Only one visitor at a time, per patient.

Visiting hours: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

Inpatient visitors: Go directly to the patient room (cafeterias and gift shops remain closed to visitors).

Exceptions:

Emergency Department: One person per patient (no visiting hour restrictions). Both parents/guardians are permitted for pediatric patients.

Labor and delivery: Two adult visitors per patient at a time (no visiting hour restrictions).

Outpatient procedures/surgery: One person may accompany each patient (no visiting hour restrictions).

Radiology and other outpatient diagnostics: One person may accompany each patient (no visiting hour restrictions).

Pediatrics and NICU: Two parents/guardians (no visiting hour restrictions).

Compassionate care/end-of-life situations: Speak with a member of the care team, as two visitors at a time may be arranged.

No visitors permitted:

No visitors for COVID-19 patients or for patients awaiting COVID-19 test results.

Urgent Care and Northwest Medical Group locations:

One visitor may accompany each patient. Two parents/guardians may accompany children.