Essentia Health Reinstating Visitor Restrictions Across all Hospitals

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Essentia Health is reinstating visitor restrictions at all of their hospitals, including Essentia Health – St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes due to increased transmission of COVID-19.

In most cases, two adult visitors will be allowed per patient, per day. Visitation is limited to the same two people in a single day.

Patients with known or suspected COVID-19 are not allowed visitors unless they are pediatric or OB patients, or patients in an end-of-life situation. A person who has been determined to be essential to the care and safety of a patient will also be allowed visitation.

General visitation hours in the hospitals are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. When visitors are care partners or are visiting in emergency departments, pediatric inpatient units and neonatal ICUs, visitation is allowed 24/7.

Essentia says they continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health department guidelines by requiring continuous masking among everyone within their facilities and by screening patients and visitors.