Published on March 27, 2020

Nash UNC Announces Tighter Visitor Restrictions

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina (March 27, 2020) –

Nash UNC Health Care has announced tighter visitor restrictions, in an effort to further limit the spread of COVID-19 and to preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) as much as possible. 

Effective Monday, March 30th, Nash UNC will no longer allow visitors for patients on isolation precautions.  This also applies to patients in the Emergency Department who are being evaluated for respiratory symptoms.  Exceptions will be made in the Pediatric Emergency Department and Women’s Center.

Isolation precautions are used to help stop the spread of germs from one person to another. These precautions protect patients, visitors, and healthcare workers from the spread of germs. When patients are placed on isolation precautions, all healthcare workers and visitors are required to wear personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves and masks, in order to enter the patient’s room.

“At this time, we are trying to conserve as much personal protective equipment as we can, to ensure we have enough to protect our staff throughout this outbreak.  Restricting visitor access to those who are on isolation precautions preserves PPE, and is consistent with measures other hospitals are implementing,” said Lee Isley, president and CEO of Nash UNC Health Care. “We are preparing our patients on isolation precautions and their visitors for this change that will go into effect on Monday, March 20th.  We are encouraging patients and their loved ones to use FaceTime or other virtual means of communication during this time.  We are also providing patients with simple tools to help them connect, as well as puzzle books and other self-entertainment items.”

Additionally, Pediatrics and the Nash Women’s Center moved to allowing only one designated, screened visitor per patient for the duration of the patient's stay, where previously they were allowed two.

As a reminder, the current visitor restrictions effective on Monday, March 30th, are:

  • One designated, screened visitor, per patient to all patient areas, except patients on isolation precautions.
  • Visitor must be over the age of 18.
  • No visitors allowed for patients on isolation precautions, except in Women’s Center and Pediatric Emergency Department.
  • Psychiatry and Behavioral Health areas prohibit all visitation with the exception of child psych/adolescent areas, on a case-by-case basis. 

“These restrictions have been put in place to protect everyone’s safety.  I’d like to thank the community for helping us keep our patients, visitors and staff safe during this challenging time,” said Isley.