Coronavirus Greenwich: Hospital Changes Visitation Policy

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Hospital announced Thursday it is limiting visitor access to patients at its main campus and outpatient facilities in both Connecticut and New York, including Northeast Medical Group offices. The announcement was made the same day hospital officials revealed a New York resident who received treatment in the hospital's emergency department this week has tested positive for the new Coronavirus.

In addition to that case, five Connecticut residents and two hospital employees have tested positive for the virus, also referred to as COVID-19, as of Thursday afternoon, however no Greenwich residents have tested positive for the virus. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

According to the hospital, the following policies have been in place effectively immediately:

• Only one visitor per patient will be allowed at any time; visiting hours will be strictly enforced.
• Do not visit if you have the following symptoms: fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat or chills.
• Do not visit if you have traveled internationally within the last 14 days.
• Visitors must be age 18 and over.
• All visitors will be screened regarding possible symptoms and recent travel.

Hospital officials said exceptions to this policy may be made for neonatal ICU (NICU), pediatric, obstetric and psychiatric units. The policy change also does not apply for extenuating circumstances, including (but not limited to) those visiting patients receiving end-of-life care, officials said.

"Greenwich Hospital continues to monitor the situation and restrictions will be amended when appropriate," officials said in a statement.

Additionally, Yale New Haven Health is offering a call center for patients and the community who have questions about COVID-19. Healthcare professionals from the health system are available to answer specific questions Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by calling 833-275-9644.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.

See also: Greenwich Coronavirus: Hospital Patient Tests Positive For Virus

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On Sunday, a Wilton resident tested positive for the virus. The second Connecticut resident to test positive is a Bethlehem woman who is a heath care worker at Bridgeport Hospital, officials said.

On Wednesday, state officials announced that an elderly man from New Canaan tested positive for the virus. They also issued a stern warning that the number of cases is expected to significantly increase over the next week.

On Thursday, city officials announced a Stamford resident who recently returned from international travel had tested positive for the virus and was preemptively isolated at Stamford Hospital.

That same day, a person in Stratford became the fifth Connecticut resident to be diagnosed with the virus. The news came after officials announced earlier in the week that a Wilcoxson Elementary School student had been exposed to the virus and become ill.

The two hospital employees are both New York residents and work at Danbury, Norwalk and Bridgeport hospitals.