Providence now restricting visitors at Olympia, Centralia hospitals to combat Omicron
Weeks after relaxing its visitors policy, Providence Southwest Washington reversed itself Friday morning, announcing there will be no routine visitation at any patient care units at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and Providence Centralia Hospital.
Providence officials said its decision reflects an effort “to help control the spread of the Omicron variant, protect our caregivers and patients, and allow staff to focus on patient care,” the health care organization said in a statement.
The new policy took effect 10 a.m. Friday.
Although routine visitation has been restricted, there are still some exceptions. They are:
▪ Patients who are at the end-of-life (expected to pass away within 12-24 hours) may have two essential support people.
▪ Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays may have one essential support person to ensure patient’s safety.
▪ Pediatrics patients (under age 18) are allowed two essential support people (parents/guardians).
▪ Obstetric patients may have one partner and one birth support person (doula) to accompany them. The partner may stay the entire time. The doula must leave once the patient leaves the labor room.
▪ Special Care Nursery patients may have two parents/guardians. No siblings allowed.
Essential support persons must be masked at all times and stay in the patient’s room the entire visit, leaving only to go to the cafeteria as needed for food.
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services reported two deaths and 601 COVID-19 cases between Dec. 20-26. As of Thursday, the county has added 1,318 cases to the week of Dec. 27 to Jan. 2. Even with the week still incomplete, this is the highest number of cases the county has announced for a single week.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 10:55 AM.
