As Covid Cases Increase, AtlantiCare Revises Visitor Policy

AtlantiCare announced changes to their visitor policy on Friday in response to an increase in the number of reported coronavirus cases in New Jersey.

The hospital says the temporary changes laid out on the AtlantiCare website are being instituted with the health and safety of hospital employees and visitors in mind.

They include a designated one-visitor policy for all non-Covid-19 patients and a no-visitor policy for all Covid-19 patients.

If the patient is under the age of 18, or has an intellectual, developmental, or other cognitive disability, up to two designated support people may visit.

Here's the AtlantiCare visitor policy...

All visitors and support people must do/meet the following to enter and remain in any AtlantiCare site:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Participate in a wellness screening that will include symptom, exposure risk and temperature checks upon entering our hospital campuses or other locations.
• Not have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
• Not have had an actual or potential exposure to COVID-19. An example of an exposure risk is participating in an indoor gathering with persons not part of one’s immediate household.
• Must have quarantined for 14 days if they have been in a state on New Jersey’s travel advisory list.
• Wear a face mask at all times while in the hospital or other AtlantiCare site. Cloth masks are acceptable. AtlantiCare will provide a mask if the visitor does not have one.
• Wear other protective equipment if providers or staff direct them to do so.
• Perform hand hygiene as they enter the facility and before visiting a patient. Sanitizing foam or gel and/or handwashing areas are available.
• Remain in the patient’s room (or Emergency Department bay), except when directed by AtlantiCare staff to leave the room.
• Maintain 6-foot social distancing in common areas, including waiting rooms and hallways.

AtlantiCare has also suspended all visitors in the emergency departments in Atlantic City, Galloway Township and Hammonton.

AtlantiCare's change in visitor policy comes just days after Shore Medical Center in Somers Point temporarily suspended all visitors because of an increase in Covid cases.