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March 2, 2021

YNHH relaxes visitation rules amid falling COVID hospitalizations

PHOTO | File image Yale New Haven Hospital.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The Yale New Haven Health system has modified its visitation guidelines for certain patients due to a downward trend in admissions and positivity rates.

Starting Wednesday, March 3, Yale New Haven Hospital will allow limited visitors on certain units. This will include all adult inpatients who are not located on a COVID unit and who have been in the hospital for longer than eight days. 

The health system has limited in-person visitation because of the pandemic for months. All other current exceptions will remain in place.

Visiting hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and patients will only be allowed one visitor per day, with no changing of visitors within the day. All visitors must pass COVID screening upon arrival.

Yale New Haven Health CEO Marna P. Borgstrom noted Tuesday that March 9 will mark the one-year anniversary since the system had its first COVID-19 patient. While the health system at one point last spring had about 800 COVID in-patients, the numbers have been dropping.

On Tuesday, Borgstrom reported there are 190 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 92 at Yale New Haven Hospital, 56 at Bridgeport Hospital, 25 at Greenwich Hospital, 13 at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and four at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island.

“Our hope is that the downward trend will continue,” Borgstrom said.

As of Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont was reporting 417 individuals were hospitalized statewide due to COVID-19, with the total fatalities to date at 7,651.

Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said the health system has administered 113,000 doses of vaccine, including about 70,000 first doses and 30,000 second doses. 

The health system anticipates getting doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, and he expects this will allow it to expand its vaccination efforts. 

Individuals who qualify for a vaccine under Lamont’s plan should visit the hospital’s website to schedule an appointment. There are vaccination sites around the region, including pop up sites, to better reach the community, Balcezak said.

Anyone experiencing difficulty scheduling an appointment may also call 833-ASK-YNHH.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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