Sanford Bemidji & Bagley Medical Centers increasing visitor restrictions

BEMIDJI, Minn.–Due to the continued local increase of respiratory viral activity and recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health , Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and Sanford Bagley Medical Center are increasing visitor restrictions.

Effective 8 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, 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.

• 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.

• Visiting hours are 8 a.m.—8 p.m.

• People who are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu are not allowed to visit.

• No visitors under age 10 are allowed.

Exceptions to this visitor policy update include:

• Pediatric hospital patients will be allowed two visitors per day. One of the two visitors must be a parent or guardian wearing an infant identification band.

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

Anyone who is not feeling well, showing symptoms of the flu, 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 10 days, should not visit anyone in a hospital.

About Sanford Health

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves more than one million patients and 220,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 47 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations and world clinics in 8 countries around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health's commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.