Silver Cross Hospital Revises Visitor Policy As COVID Cases Drop

NEW LENOX, IL — Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox announced Monday that it has dropped its "No-Visitor" policy and will allow for up to two designated visitors per patient, according to a news release from the hospital.

The new visitor policy takes effect Monday. All non-COVID-19 inpatient nursing unit and emergency department patients will be allowed to designate one visitor during the duration of a patient's stay, according to the release. Pediatric patients ages 17 and under in the emergency department will be allowed two designated visitors throughout the patient's stay.

Two designated visitors will also be allowed for those in the pediatrics, labor and delivery, and newborn nursery departments.

Those receiving outpatient care will be allowed one designated visitor during the patient's testing or procedure. If the patient is admitted, then one designated visitor will be allowed during the patient's stay.

Special exceptions to the revised visitor policy could be made based on patient presentation or other needs, such as end-of-life care, according to the release.

All designated visitors must screen negative for COVID-19 and wear a mask at all times, according to the release. Visitors under the age of 16 will not be permitted.

Silver Cross had previously been under a "No-Visitor" policy since Dec. 30. Hospital officials at that time cited a surge in COVID-19 cases and a need to "maintain the safest possible environment for our patients and our staff."

Silver Cross officials cited a decline in COVID-19 cases in Will County and at the hospital as a reason for the new, revised policy.

The revised visitor policy will remain in effect until further notice, according to the release.

The hospital reported there were 51 patients with COVID-19 as of Monday, with one additional patient awaiting COVID-19 results, according to information on the hospital's COVID-19 Daily Dashboard on its website. Of those patients, 14 were in the intensive care unit, and 11 were on ventilators.