JANUARY 14, 2022 – Northfield Hospital + Clinics has tightened visitor restrictions as cases of COVID-19 increase dramatically, driven by the highly contagious omicron variant.

• Hospital adult patients are not allowed any visitors at this time. Compassionate exemption may be made for a patient at end of life.

• Children in the hospital may have one parent/guardian who may stay overnight. It must be the same visitor for the length of hospital stay.

• Hospital patients with disability or dementia may have one designated support person who may stay overnight. It must be the same visitor for the length of hospital stay, if possible.

• Birth Center patients may have one consistent adult support person – the same person for the entire stay. This support person will stay the entire time in the patient room. Patients may choose their partner or a doula, but not both.

• Outpatient surgery and endoscopy patients are not allowed visitors. Children having outpatient surgery may have one parents/guardian during their stay. Patients with disability or dementia may have one designated support person.

• Emergency Department adult patients are not allowed any visitors. Children may have one parent/guardian. Patients with disability or dementia may have one designated support person.

• Outpatients in hospital departments are not allowed any visitors. This includes the Cancer Care & Infusion Center, Imaging, Wound Healing Center, Breast Care Center, Lactation, and Lab. Children may have one parent/guardian during their appointment. Patients with disability or dementia may have one designated support person.

In clinics:

• Adult clinic patients may not have visitors

• Pediatric patients may have one parent/guardian (no siblings)

• People with disability or dementia may have one support person

• Pregnant patients may have one support person for specific appointments. Talk with your care team when scheduling

In all departments:

• Visitors with any COVID-19 symptom are not allowed.

• No visitors under age 18.

• All visitors will be screened, including temperature. Those who show any symptom of COVID will not be allowed to enter.

• All visitors must wear a medical mask and keep 6 ft. distance from others. If visitors do not have a mask, one will be provided. Any visitor who refuses to wear a mask will not be allowed into the facility.

• Visitors are not allowed for patients who have or may have COVID. Compassionate exemption may be made for a patient at end of life.

• Visitors must stay in the patient room.

• Masks must be worn any time NH+C staff are in the patient room.

Visitor restrictions may be loosened up again if there’s a decrease in COVID cases in the community. Visitor policies are based on the COVID positivity rate in Dakota County.

Systemwide precautions continue at all NH+C locations to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to care for all patients safely.