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Sanford Bemidji & Bagley Medical Centers increasing visitor restrictions

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 8 a.m.

BEMIDJI, Minn.–Due to the continued local increase of COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions with COVID-19, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and Sanford Bagley Medical Center are increasing visitor restrictions.

Effective 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, Sanford Bemidji and Sanford Bagley hospitals will implement the following guidelines for all visitors.

• Only two visitors (per day). Patients must choose two people who will be allowed to visit the patient each day during established visiting hours.

• COVID-19 patients are not allowed visitors, unless noted in the exception list below.

• A mask must be worn at all times, covering the nose and mouth, including while in the patient’s room. Surgical masks will be provided and are strongly recommended.

o Visitors over the age of five are allowed with an adult.

o Visiting hours are 8 a.m.—8 p.m.

o Visitors should limit time spent outside the patient’s room and only use public restrooms.

Exceptions to this visitor policy update include:

• Pediatric hospital patients will be allowed two parent/guardian visitors per day.

• Special Care Nursery visitors need to be accompanied by a visitor with an identification bracelet. Children ages 5-17 are allowed to visit but are limited to a 15-minute time frame.

• End-of-life patient visitors will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

• End-of-life COVID-19 patient visitors will be determined and coordinated through the patients’ care team.

All visitors must be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 upon entry to the facility in accordance with current CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.

Anyone who is not feeling well, has recently had a known exposure to someone confirmed to have COVID-19, has a pending COVID-19 test or has been confirmed to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days, should not visit anyone in a hospital.

Sanford COVID-19 helpline

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or a recent known exposure, please call your regular health care provider or the My Sanford Nurse line, (701) 234-5000—do not come in-person to the clinic in order to protect staff and other patients.

A known exposure is defined as being within six feet of someone who is confirmed to have COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more without wearing a mask.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever of 100.4⁰F, chills, sore throat or cough, new onset of shortness of breath, new onset of loss of taste and smell, new onset of muscle pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, new headache or excessive fatigue or congestion or runny nose.

For more information regarding COVID-19 and care with Sanford Health, go to http://www.sanfordhealth.org.

 

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