Avita Updates Visitation, Other Rules Amid COVID Surge

With a doubling in reported cases of COVID-19 in the last week here in Richland County, health care providers are taking notice.

While there has not been a corresponding doubling of hospitalizations or deaths related to the pandemic, there is a heightened awareness of the virus and a renewed effort toward reasonable precautions and vaccination.

Avita Health System has released a temporary set of COVID guidelines as a result related to patient visitation, cafeteria and gift shop access, etc.. Those new guidelines include:

Masking required at all Avita facilities
Visitor Restrictions:
- Visitors under the age of 18 are not permitted
- Inpatient (Med/Surg & ICU) and Maternity: 2 visitors per day
- Surgery, Medical Offices, and Emergency Department: 2 visitors per day
- Visiting Hours 8:00am – 8:00pm
- Overnight visitation is not permitted
Limited patient entrances at Bucyrus, Galion, and Ontario Hospitals
- Bucyrus Hospital – Emergency Department entrance is open for patients and visitors The Main Lobby Entrance is open Monday – Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday – Sunday 8:00am to 6:30pm.
- Galion Hospital – Emergency Department entrance is open for patients experiencing medical emergencies. Main Lobby Entrance is open Monday – Friday 7:00am to 5:30pm for patients and visitors.
- Ontario Hospital – Main Hospital Entrance is open for emergency patients, visitors, and testing. East Entrance is open Monday – Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm for physician clinic patients only. The West Entrance is open for Avita Heart patients only.
Screening every patient and visitor that enters the hospital with a questionnaire
Cafeteria restrictions – Food and nutritional services are available for employees, patients, and patient visitors only.
The gift shops at Galion and Bucyrus Hospitals are open limited hours. Masking, social distancing, and maximum occupancy limits apply.
Vendor restrictions – We are only allowing necessary preapproved vendors in our facilities.