Visitors Again Allowed In Rhode Island Hospitals

PROVIDENCE, RI — For the first time in months, visitors are allowed back into Rhode Island hospitals. The Rhode Island Department of Health has worked with facilities to ensure the safety of visitors, patients and health care workers.

Wednesday marks the return of visitation at nursing homes, as well. In both cases, visits will look a lot different from before the coronavirus pandemic hit, with strict safety guidelines in place.

Each hospital has its own individual visitation plan in place, though the department has created a universal set of guidelines. Check with the hospital to determine visiting hours, which are in most cases limited.

All visitors will be asked to keep their visits short, wear a mask, limit the number of people in a room and maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and the patient. In addition, visitors are asked not to gather in communal areas such as waiting rooms or gift shops, instead going straight to the patient's room and leaving after.

Two weeks ago, the Department of Health encouraged nursing homes to allow communal dining and activities as a kind of trial run for visitation. This helped facilities prepare for safely distanced visits, while allowing residents the chance to again interact with each other. As of Wednesday, hairdressers and barbers are also allowed back into long-term care facilities, another benefit for residents' mental health, Dr, Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the department, said.

Read more:

• RI Nursing Home Visitations Set To Resume Wednesday
• What To Know About Nursing Home Visitation In Rhode Island