Grundy Center Memorial Hospital loosens visitor guidelines

GRUNDY CENTER – Grundy Center Memorial Hospital announced Friday that its visitor policy has been updated to allow for more visitors for hospitalized patients and those seeking outpatient care at the hospital as COVID-19 transmission levels continue to wane across the state.

The move comes in response to lower COVID-19 transmission levels in the region, and took effect as of March 28. Visitors and patients are still required to wear a mask when at the hospital and will be screened for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms of respiratory illness.

Hospitalized patients have no visitor limitations, other than those in isolation with COVID-19 that are still limited to one visitor. Patients in surgery, emergency and specialty clinic departments may be accompanied by up to two visitors.

The hospital’s East J Café is also available to outpatients and patient visitors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data on March 25, all Iowa counties rated as “low” for community levels of COVID-19. At that level of community transmission, persons are merely advised to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and to get tested if they have symptoms.

The visitor limits were introduced two years ago to control COVID-19 spread and maintain a safe environment for patients and employees.