Elmhurst Hospital Announces New Visitor Rules

ELMHURST, IL — With a surge in coronavirus cases, Elmhurst Hospital announced Monday it would not allow routine visitors into its facilities, effective Tuesday.

The move, the hospital said, was designed to protect patients, staff and the community.

According to the hospital's rules, adult patients with an appointment or visiting the hospital's doctor's offices or other areas must come alone. Companions or care partners must wait in their cars. Exceptions for approved care partners will be taken into consideration, the hospital said.

All public areas of the hospital, including cafés, gift shops and waiting rooms, will be closed to patients and approved care partners, according to the rules.

On Monday, the hospital was treating 70 patients with the coronavirus, the most in more than a year. Elmhurst itself just saw a record number of new coronavirus cases in a week.