Coronavirus: Austin Hospitals Implement 'No Visitors' Policy

AUSTIN, TX — Three key hospitals in Austin — Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White, and St. David’s HealthCare — have implemented a "no visitors" policy starting on Sunday to protect patients, physicians, staff and others against potential exposure to new coronavirus, officials announced on Saturday.

"Our priority is to reduce the transmission risk within our sites of care," officials said in a prepared statement. "Exceptions will be made for laboring and post-partum patients; patients with disabilities or impairments or who are elderly; patients in the neonatal ICU (NICU) and pediatric units; patients requiring surgery or other medical procedures; and patients requiring end-of-life care."

In such cases, a caregiver 18 years or older may accompany the aforementioned patient populations, officials explained. The visitor must pass our previously established health-screening criteria upon entrance into the facility, officials added.

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"While we understand the importance of having the support of loved ones during a hospital visit or stay, we must prioritize the health and safety of our patients and caregivers during this unprecedented pandemic," officials added. "We encourage support persons to use alternate methods of communication to stay in contact with loved ones, such as phone calls, video chats or texting."

Hospital officials added they would continue to modify our response protocols as the needs within the community evolve.

Originally referred to as new coronavirus, the respiratory ailment renamed COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have sparked outbreaks in the past.