Visitation Suspended At Vassar Brothers, Northern Dutchess

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Visitation at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Northern Dutchess Hospital has been suspended effective Thursday.

Nuvance Health, which operates both hospitals, made the announcement Wednesday.

The temporary pause on visitation includes inpatient, emergency departments, medical practices and ambulatory services.

"As COVID-19 cases are on the rise," Nuvance posted on Facebook, "this is an important way to limit the risk of possible exposure to you, your family, our staff and the community."

Exceptions will apply for patients under 21, maternity and newborn intensive care unit patients, those with disabilities and in extenuating or end-of-life situations.

The full policy can be viewed here.

Nuvance said it apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

"We know visitors and loved ones play an essential role as partners in healing and wellness, and we re-evaluate our policies regularly," the health organization said.

On Wednesday, Dutchess County health officials said that active cases of the virus increased nearly 200 percent since the end of July and that the county was now classified as a high transmission area by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The health department issued recommendations that included wearing masks in indoor public spaces, even if fully vaccinated.

There were 739 actives cases of the coronavirus in Dutchess County as of Tuesday, up from 282 Aug. 1.

Just under 56 percent of county residents are fully vaccinated. Slightly less than 62 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

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