COVID-19 CASES DECLINE Thursday 24th March 2022
Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Opens Doors to More Visitors as COVID-19 Cases Decline
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, March 23, 2022—Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is opening its doors to more visitors, thanks to a drop in hospitalizations, increasing immunity from COVID-19 vaccinations and a continuing decline in cases of COVID-19 across our communities and nation.
The hospital will resume normal visiting hours from 11am to 8pm daily, starting tomorrow (March 24). Most patients will be allowed to have two visitors at a time at the bedside during visiting hours.
“With all of the positive trends we are seeing in the community, and the extra protection afforded by the COVID-19 vaccines, we felt it was time to welcome more visitors back into our hospital,” said SLBMC Medical Director Dr. Albert Duncan. “Having friends and family members at the bedside is an important part of the healing process.”
In general, visitors must be age 12 or older. Certain departments, including Pediatrics and the Intensive Care Units (ICU for babies and adults), have department-specific guidelines people should check before visiting. In the ICU for example, loved ones may visit from 11am to noon and 4:30pm to 6:30pm daily.
SLBMC is still restricting visitors for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, with exceptions for extraordinary circumstances such as end-of-life situations.
The hospital is maintaining a universal masking policy for all staff, physicians and visitors in public and patient-care areas of its facilities, as well as many other pandemic protocols as it continues to monitor transmission rates of the virus in the country.
While hospital leaders strongly encourage everyone to get their vaccinations, proof of a COVID-19 shot is not required to visit patients in the hospital. No one should visit the hospital if they do not feel well or have any symptoms of respiratory illness.
For more information regarding visiting guidelines, call SLBMC Reception at 484-2700.
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