COLUMBUS, Ohio — Effective Tuesday, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is limiting visitation temporarily due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. 

Patients staying in its facilities will be allowed just two named visitors for the entire duration of their stay. The two names given to the hospital can't change. 

"This change is necessary to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposures to our patients, visitors and staff and to reduce the need for health care staff to educate and remind several different visitors about COVID-19 safety requirements," Ohio State Wexner wrote in a press release Monday.

The following rules will also apply: 

• No visitors under 18 years old
• All visitors must wear a hospital-grade face mask covering the nose and mouth at all times while in the building, including in the patient’s room
• Visitors must have no COVID-19 symptoms or recent known exposures
• Visitors must perform hand hygiene upon arrival and when entering/exiting the patient’s room
• Visitors for COVID-19 positive and suspected COVID-19 patients must perform added safety precautions as instructed and should not visit other areas of the building
• Existing visitation exceptions and allowances will remain in place and are explained on its visitor policy page

University Hospitals made the same decision last week, allowing most patients just one visitor per day. It will also screen visitors for COVID-19 symptoms. Cleveland Clinic also implemented a new policy two weeks ago to limit the number of guests a patient can have during their stay. 

The Ohio Department of Health reported 4,266 new cases Sunday and 63 new hospitalizations. The 21-day case average now sits at 6,515.