New Coronavirus Prompts Visitor Restrictions At Inova Hospitals

FAIRFAX, VA — Inova Health System announced changes to the hospital visitor policy related to the new coronavirus outbreak, effective at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 12. The health system changed the policy "to protect the health and safety of our patients, their families and staff from the spread of COVID-19." The restrictions apply even to visitors who are healthy.

No visitors will be allowed for patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 or patients with active respiratory illness.

For other patients, visiting hours are restricted to two times each day — 10 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Only two visitors per patient are allowed at any time. Inova also recommends visitors under 18 do not enter its facilities.

Upon entering an Inova facility, visitors will undergo a verbal screening. If individuals answer "yes" to any of the screening questions, they will be asked to delay the visit until they're healthy.

The restrictions apply to Inova Fairfax, Inova Alexandria, Inova Fair Oaks, Inova Loudoun and Inova Mount Vernon.

Inova Children's Hospital has its own restrictions. Parents and legal guardians are allowed and can stay overnight, but additional visitors are not allowed. Certain units may have additional restrictions, which staff will communicate directly to families.

The hospital asks parents and legal guardians to stay home if they're sick, traveled to a CDC designated high-risk area for COVID-19, or had direct contact with a patient confirmed to have COVID-19. Anyone with a fever or cough is advised to stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone without using anti-fever medication. Those who have traveled to a high-risk area should take to the child's nurse before visiting. Contact with a person who is sick should be reported to a nurse or doctor to determine if other precautions are necessary.

For more information on symptoms of COVID-19, how to prevent the spread, and more information, visit the CDC's website.

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