Yale New Haven Hospital Restricting Visitors

NEW HAVEN, CT — Yale New Haven Hospital has decided to limit visitors due to increasing community spread of the coronavirus. The visitor limitations also apply to Yale New Haven Hospital's outpatient facilities.

"We know in-person visits provide support and reassurance and we understand that visitation restrictions can be very unsettling to patients and family members alike," Yale New Haven Health said in a statement.

Connecticut has seen growing levels of coronavirus spread in recent weeks. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations more than doubled over the past few weeks with around 500 people currently hospitalized. The state saw more than 3,330 positive coronavirus cases over the weekend.

The limitation policy effectively immediately is as follows:

• There is no visitation to hospitalized patients due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19. Rare exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the patient’s clinical team and we will do our best to accommodate exceptions where possible. Our first priority is to protect the health of our patients, visitors and staff.
  • Among the visitor exceptions that can be made will be for maternity patients, children who are patients, patients for whom end-of-life is imminent, NICU patients, and patients with disabilities, such as altered mental status; physical, intellectual or cognitive disabilities; communication barriers; or behavioral concerns.
  • We encourage visitors to remain closely connected to their loved ones through virtual means, including Skype, FaceTime and/or phone.
• All visitors who do enter the hospital will be screened for evidence of illness by the staff at the front desk. Should questions arise, front desk staff will contact clinical leadership for guidance.
  • Visitors who are sick will not be permitted to enter the hospital; this is without exception.