Essentia Health In Duluth Announces New Visitor Restrictions

There was a time earlier this year when Essentia Health relaxed visitor restrictions, but unfortunately we're heading in the wrong direction with the pandemic and now new restrictions have been announced and they will quickly go into effect.

According to Essentia Health, due to the increasing transmission of COVID-19 and the subsequent strain it’s placing on their resources, Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center and Essentia Health-Duluth are forced to implement these new visitor restrictions beginning this Thursday morning.

Beginning Thursday, September 16, two visitors will be allowed per patient, per day and visitation is limited to the same two people in a single day. Visitors should remain in the room of the patient they are visiting and are asked to wear a mask.

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While that will be the policy in most case, patients with known or suspected COVID-19 are not allowed visitors unless they are pediatric or OB patients, or patients in an end-of-life situation. Also, a person who has been determined to be essential to the care and safety of a patient will also be allowed visitation.

For now, these restrictions will only apply to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center and Essentia Health-Duluth, which are the the two hospitals on their downtown Duluth campus. Other facilities may have their own restrictions in place and things can change based on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.

General visitation hours in the hospital are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When visitors are care partners, visitation is allowed 24/7.

Essentia Health recommends all visitors first contact St. Mary’s Medical Center or Essentia Health-Duluth before visiting to determine the policy for your situation.