COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center will relax its visitor policy as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline.
Effective Thursday, Feb. 24, patients who are in the hospital, including those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, will be allowed two named visitors for the duration of their stay. Currently, the policy only allows one named visitor.
Visiting hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Other guidelines are as follows:
- The two named visitors must be the same throughout the patient's entire stay and no changes are permitted
- Visitors must provide a government-issued ID upon arrival
- Visitors must have no COVID-19 symptoms and have not been recently exposed
- All visitors must wear a mask
The Wexner Medical Center is the latest Ohio hospital to change its visitor policy as the state begins to see a decline in COVID-19 cases.
Since early January, COVID-19 cases have dropped in Ohio by more than 95%, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Cleveland Clinic relaxed its visitor policy Tuesday, allowing two adult visitors for all patients, including those with COVID-19. Earlier this month, many hospitals resumed elective surgeries after having to postpone due to a rapid spread of the omicron variant and staff shortages.