McLeod Health expands visitation amid COVID-19 decline

Amid a decrease in COVID-19 cases, more people will now be able to visit loved ones in Manning's hospital at a time.

McLeod Health announced changes to its visitation policy on Monday as "staff hope this trend will continue as communities return to normal operations and move beyond the pandemic." Four visitors are now allowed at a time during general visitation hours, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., at McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast, according to a news release.

An armband or visitor pass will be provided at each facility's entrance. Visitors are required to wear a face mask and be in possession of their armband or visitor pass at all times.

Physicians, employees, visitors and incoming patients arriving for care, testing or moving through the facilities must wear a face mask while at a McLeod Health campus or in a physician office.

Children must be at least 5 years old to visit and must be accompanied by an adult. During RSV season, October to April, children under the age of 12 are not allowed to visit.

No more than one visitor or family member may remain overnight with a patient unless approved by the nursing supervisor. Pediatric patients are limited to two adult visitors for overnight stays.

Exceptions to the number of visitors in specific areas include:

- Emergency Department - Patients may have two visitors;

- Outpatient testing and procedures - Patients may have two visitors;

- Cancer Center - Patients may have two visitors;

- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - Patients may have two visitors consisting of parents, legal guardians or caregivers;

- Women's services/labor and delivery - Patients may have one visitor during labor. This individual can be relieved by others but only by one other person visiting at a time. Other visitors, up to four, may wait in the family waiting areas. After delivery and recovery, the mother and baby may have four visitors;

- COVID-19 positive or COVID-19 rule-out - Patients may have one visitor, unless end of life; and

- End of life - Patients may have up to six visitors at a time.

Special requests regarding visitation will be handled on an individual basis and be referred to the nursing supervisor for final decision.

At McLeod physician associates practice offices, one identified supportive care person is permitted to attend with the patient.