“At this time, no visitors including birthing partners and support persons are permitted for obstetric patients,” the hospital said in a statement on March 23.
“We understand that this will be difficult for our patients and their loved ones, but we believe that this is a necessary step to promote the safety of our new mothers and children.”
Both medical groups and their hospitals reassured patients that staff would work with each family to “stay in touch via FaceTime, Skype, phone, and email.”
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Earlier this month, the New York State Department of Health released a statement advising all hospitals to suspend visitation effective immediately, with exceptions for family members or legal representatives of patients in immediate end-of-life situations.
The department said that any visitors meeting these expectations should be screened for COVID-19 symptoms — cough, shortness of breath, or fever.
As of Tuesday afternoon, March 31, there are 75,795 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state of New York, and 1,550 deaths.
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