Saratoga Hospital adopts ‘no visitors’ policy as COVID cases rise

Saratoga Hospital began on Friday banning visitors from its medical facilities, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases as being behind the no-visitors policy.

“Due to increasing rates of COVID-19 infection in our community, Saratoga Hospital has adopted a ‘no visitors’ policy,” the hospital said, announcing the policy. “Keeping the number of people in the building to a minimum will help protect patients and staff. “

The hospital said it would make “compassionate exemptions” on a case-by-case basis.

The new policy comes as cases of COVID-19 increase in Saratoga County and the wider region. Transmission levels in the county have reached “high” levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The county recorded a dozen hospitalizations and nearly 300 active cases as of Thursday, according to county data. About 40 people have tested positive for COVID in the county every day this week.

Earlier this week, county health officials urged residents to get vaccinated, noting that the county’s vaccination levels – about 70% of residents received at least one dose of the vaccine – were helping to mitigate what would be otherwise a more serious increase in cases.

“The main message is that the vaccine and immunization coverage is doing what it was designed to do, which is to prevent hospitalizations, serious illness and death,” Saratoga County Health Commissioner Dr Daniel said. Kuhles, at a press conference on Wednesday. “The data shows that vaccines remain the most effective tool in our battle against COVID. “

The new hospital visitation ban would impact many facilities and all primary and specialist care offices affiliated with the hospital. The no-visitor policy applies to the Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center, Urgent Care-Wilton, Urgent Care-Adirondack in Queensbury, Malta Med Emergent Care and all primary and specialist care offices at Saratoga Hospital Medical Group .

Categories: New, Saratoga County