CentraCare Implements Visitor Restrictions Effective Immediately

(KNSI) – CentraCare says it is reinstating its visitor restrictions due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

According to CentraCare officials, one healthy adult visitor will be allowed per patient in CentraCare and Carris Health hospital settings, and that visitor must be the same person. This new policy updates the previous policy that allowed two healthy adult visitors. For patients under the age of 18, two healthy adult visitors are allowed.

In CentraCare Health or Carris Health clinic settings, one healthy visitor is allowed for adult patients with cognitive, physical, or developmental disabilities. For patients under the age of 18, two healthy adult visitors are allowed. Besides the patient under 18, other underage visitors are not allowed.

All visitors must wear masks.

These guidelines do not pertain to CentraCare’s long-term care facilities because of different regulations for vulnerable populations.

CentraCare’s COVID-19 incident commander, Dr. George Morris, says they reinstated the visitor restrictions as a “recognition of how much activity there is going on within our community.”

Morris says COVID positivity rates are around 10% in the St. Cloud area, adding, “Every decision we make all the plans that we put in place are centered around a few, key principles. And that includes making the best medical decision we can, with the focus on the safety of our patients, the safety of our staff, and then the safety of our community.”

The restrictions go into effect on Tuesday, September 21st.

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