Baystate Health is taking preemptive measures to protect the health and safety of its patients, the community and its healthcare workers by initiating a new visitor policy for all of its hospitals in reaction to coronavirus.
“Most people get infected with one or more of these common coronaviruses at some point in their lives,” said Dr. Sarah Haessler, Baystate Health epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist. “To be clear, the virus causing COVID-19 is not the same as these common coronaviruses. COVID-19 is a new coronavirus from an animal reservoir that had not been previously identified. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.”
The new policy will take effect Friday and will restrict patients to one visitor at a time. Anyone showing symptoms of fever or coughing is asked to avoid the hospital.
“We remain on alert in Western Massachusetts for patients,” said Haessler. “Who have a history of travel to one of the affected areas or contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 infection.”
The new policy is in effect at all Baystate Health hospitals, including Baystate Medical Center and Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, and Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield.