Yale New Haven Health, Albertus tighten vaccine policies as cases rise

Dr. Thomas Balcezak

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By Liese Klein

Major employer Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) announced Wednesday that it would require that all visitors to admitted patients to its hospitals will have to show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative PCR test, another sign that local institutions are tightening restrictions as case counts rise.

YNHH’s policy goes into effect on Thursday at 8 a.m. and impacts visitors to the system’s five hospitals: Yale New Haven, Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial and Westerly. Patients will also be limited to one visitor per day under the new rules.

YNHH Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Thomas Balcezak said, “These visitation guidelines will balance preventing the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 with the needs of our patients and their loved ones. By showing proof of full vaccination or recent negative test status, we are making every effort to keep risk minimized and ensure the health and well-being of everyone across our health system.”

The health system is the latest New Haven-area institution to announce a change in policy in response to the spread of the super-contagious Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 infection.

Middlesex Health on Wednesday announced it would reduce visiting hours at its hospital in Middletown to 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., along with announcing a limit of one visitor per patient per day. Patients on respiratory precautions, such as presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patients,
are not allowed visitors, the hospital said in a statement.

Albertus Magnus College announced it would require proof of a COVID-19 booster shot from all faculty, staff and students starting on Jan. 1. To be fully compliant with the new policy, affiliates must get a booster shot within 14 days of eligibility or get an approved exemption.

“Employees who do not comply with the college’s vaccination and booster policy may be asked to take a leave of absence without pay and/or will be at risk of termination,” the college said in a statement.

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.