WAYNE, Mich. – The Beaumont Hospital in Wayne is restricting patient visitation to help prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise throughout Michigan.
Effective at 8 a.m. on Nov. 27, no visitors will be allowed for patients with a pending or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, patients under 21 years of age, women in labor or “other extreme circumstances where the benefits of presence outweigh the risk of COVID-19 exposure,” officials said Wednesday. COVID patients will be allowed visitors if they are nearing the end of life.
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The remainder of patients at the hospital will not be allowed any visitors -- except those in the following circumstances, in which one visitor is allowed at a time:
- Mother in labor or with pregnancy complications. A doula in addition to the designated partner is permitted.
- Children who are 21 years of age or under. Two parents are permitted with the exception of babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where additional restrictions may be required.
- Person who is in serious or critical condition or in hospice care.
- Person at end-of-life. Talk with nursing staff about additional family taking turns at the loved one’s bedside. (Two people are permitted at the bedside)
- Adult with cognitive, physical, or mental disability requiring help with the provision of medical care or activities of daily living, speaking for the patient, and keeping patient safe.
- Person undergoing a surgical procedure.
- When required for physical or emotional support and arrangements are made in advance, person having an outpatient test or procedure.
- Person who must exercise power of attorney or court-appointed guardianship for a patient.
Exceptions may apply and will be determined by leadership of that department at the time of visitation.
“We’ve had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in Metro Detroit,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health. “Last spring, we took care of the most COVID-19 patients in the state and we know that taking difficult steps like restricting visitors will help us keep our patients and our staff safe.”
Patients can be escorted into the emergency center by one support person at all Beaumont locations.
The Beaumont Hospital in Wayne is the latest of the Beaumont hospitals to issue visitation restrictions as coronavirus spread increases across Michigan.
A number of other medical centers have also recently ramped up visitation restrictions as COVID-19 cases climb throughout Michigan. Coronavirus hospitalizations have been increasing throughout the state as the virus spreads more rapidly than in previous months. Hospitals have also seen upticks in critical care and ventilator use.
On Wednesday, the state reported 4,273 new COVID-19 cases and 73 new deaths in Michigan since Tuesday. In total, Michigan has reported 324,779 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,761 deaths.
COVID-19 testing has increased in Michigan in recent weeks, with more than 45,000 diagnostic tests reported per day -- but the positive rate has increased to near 13% over the last week. Hospitalizations have increased steadily for the last five weeks.
Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 6,925 on Tuesday, near the highest it has ever been. The 7-day death average was 80, the highest since May. The state’s fatality rate is 2.7%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 159,000 on Tuesday -- its highest mark on record.
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