Mayo Clinic Rochester to ease visitor restrictions beginning Dec. 6

(ABC 6 News) – Mayo Clinic in Rochester announced they will loosen restrictions for hospital patients, beginning Dec. 6.

Mayo says the changes are possible due to the reduced risk of severe COVID-19 disease, staff and patient vaccination rates, effective treatment options, and the low positivity rate.

Also, patients who are COVID-19 positive or suspected to be positive will no longer have different restrictions from other patients. Mayo will also lift the restrictions on the number of visitors allowed on a patient’s visitor list.

The following visitor expectations apply to all patients regardless of COVID-19 status (beginning Dec. 6):

• Visiting hours are 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.
• Children must be age 5 or older to visit. A responsible adult must accompany all visitors under age 16. Visiting children may not be left unaccompanied.
• All visitors must be on the patient’s visitor list or will not be allowed to visit.
• Patients may request an unlimited number of visitors to be placed on the list. 
• The recommended number of visitors in the patient room at one time is two.

However, the Family Birth Center on Eisenberg 3-2 is an exception and has updated visitor restrictions as follows:

• Siblings of any age accompanied by an adult visitor and those age 16 or older are allowed in the mother’s room during Family Birth Center visiting hours, which are 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• A maximum of 10 individuals may be identified on the patient’s visitor list for the duration of the hospital stay. 

Mayo says safety remains a primary focus and to protect staff, patients, and visitors, the following will continue:

• Require visitors to be masked at all times.
• Restrict visitors during aerosol-generating procedures. Mayo Clinic may allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
• Provide education if a visitor is permitted for a patient who is positive for COVID-19. The care team will explain to the visitor the risks of contracting COVID-19 and educate the visitor on the required personal protective equipment precautions.

For other information on visitor guidelines at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, CLICK HERE.