Lexington Medical Center, Prisma no longer allowing visitors due to coronavirus
This story was updated at 12:11 p.m. March 20 to include information about Prisma Health’s coronavirus visitor policy.
Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health will no longer allow visitors into their facilities, the hospitals announced Friday.
The crackdown happened as novel coronavirus cases in South Carolina ballooned and hospitals reduced general access to their buildings. The new rule for visitors began Friday morning and includes emergency rooms.
The only exceptions are for patients in certain departments, where the hospitals will allow one visitor per patient:
▪ Obstetrics
▪ Pediatrics
▪ Newborn nursery and special care nursery (Lexington Medical Center)
▪ Neonatal ICU (Prisma Health)
Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health will also allow one visitor for patients in “end-of-life” situations. Children younger than 18 will not be allowed in the hospital facilities as visitors. Patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus or are suspected of having the virus cannot have visitors, according to the hospital news releases.
Lexington Medical Center will also close its ambulatory surgery centers in Lexington and Irmo beginning Monday, March 23. Urgent care centers will stay open, according to the news release.
Prisma Health outpatient facilities will also be affected by the visitor restriction.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 10:49 AM.