Published: 10/17/2020 3:30:57 PM
Modified: 10/17/2020 7:36:05 PM
SPRINGFIELD — Following a surge in local COVID-19 cases, Springfield Hospital is implementing a new “no visitor policy,” according to a news release from the hospital.
The policy, which went into effect Friday night, has some exceptions: Children are allowed to have two parents present, “end of life” care patients may have visitors, and cognitively impaired patients who are coming for outpatient treatments may have a caretaker, according to the news release.
The news comes after the Upper Valley and other parts of Vermont and New Hampshire saw a rise of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Vermont reported 13 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, for a statewide total to date of 1,915. Six of the new cases were in Chittenden County, three in Bennington County, and one each in Windham, Windsor and Washington counties. The total number of deaths has remained at 58 since late July.
As of Friday, a total of 9,514 people had tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, an increase of 90 from the previous day. Two new deaths were announced, bringing the total to 463.