No-Visitor Policy In Place At Illinois Advocate Hospitals

ILLINOIS — In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Advocate Aurora Health is no longer allowing visitors at its hospitals as of Thursday.

"At this time we're not allowing visitors in our hospitals," officials wrote in an update on the hospital website. "This policy is part of our Safe Care Promise and ensures patients receive the care and support they need while helping reduce the spread of COVID-19."

The policy comes as cases of the omicron and delta variants are rising statewide. As of Wednesday, 779 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to Advocate Aurora in Illinois, officials wrote.

Illinois hospitals in the Advocate Aurora network include Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Sherman Hospital in Elgin, South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Trinity Hospital in Chicago, and Advocate Children's in Park Ridge and Oak Lawn.

A select few are exempt from the "no-visitor" policy. According to Advocate Aurora's guidelines, adults who don't have COVID-19 but bring a patient to the emergency room, where no visitors are allowed as of Monday, can wait in designated areas that allow for social distancing. One visitor is also allowed to support a patient who needs help with care and decision-making, and one visitor is allowed to receive discharge instructions for a patient.

Children will be allowed to accompany adult patients. For end-of-life situations, three visitors will be allowed at one time, officials noted.

For children who are hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19, one parent or caregiver will be allowed as a visitor at a given time. A parent or caregiver will have to be designated to visit kids who may have COVID-19.

A full list of guidelines regarding the no-visitor policy can be found here.

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