Michigan Medicine to lift some visitor restrictions this week as COVID-19 infection rates decline

Changes will allow one adult visitor for adult patients beginning Wednesday

With infection rates and hospitalizations for COVID-19 dropping, Michigan Medicine will lift some visitor restrictions for adult patients that had been required during the most recent surge of patients.

After closely monitoring dropping infection rates, Michigan Medicine leaders have determined that some visitor restrictions can be changed.

On Wednesday at 7 a.m., policies for adult patients will change. One single visitor will be allowed each day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. for adult patients in the hospital. Visitors are limited to one person, not multiple visitors in a day. There are exceptions for longer hours for those with developmental delays and significant cognitive impairments.

In our clinics, one visitor (16 years or older) will be able to accompany an adult patient to an appointment, unless an aide or assistant is required for cognitive or physical impairments.

In the emergency room, adults will be allowed one visitor per patient during their stay.

COVID-19 positive or suspected COVID-19 positive patients will not be allowed visitors except at end of life.

Pediatric rules will not be changed. Currently pediatric patients in the hospital are allowed two visitors, those going to clinic appointments are allowed one.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Michigan Medicine has been taking steps to protect staff and patients including screening our patients at our hospitals and clinics for symptoms; moving furniture to encourage social distancing; paying vigilant attention to cleaning and disinfection; and following established guidelines to minimize the spread of disease.

Michigan Medicine’s visitor policies are posted and will be updated here. There are some exceptions for end-of-life and for patients in labor and delivery.

Family and visitors still are required to wear masks (covering mouth and nose) at Michigan Medicine at all times — even if they have received a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes while they are in a patient room and throughout the facility.  Visitors unable to mask or non-compliant with masking will be asked to leave. 

About Michigan Medicine: At Michigan Medicine, we advance health to serve Michigan and the world. We pursue excellence every day in our three hospitals, 125 clinics and home care operations that handle more than 2.3 million outpatient visits a year, as well as educate the next generation of physicians, health professionals and scientists in our U-M Medical School.

Michigan Medicine includes the top ranked U-M Medical School and the University of Michigan Health System, which includes the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, University Hospital, the Frankel Cardiovascular Center and the Rogel Cancer Center. Michigan Medicine’s adult hospitals were ranked no. 11 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2020-21 and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital was the only children’s hospital in Michigan nationally ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties analyzed by U.S. News and World Report for 2020-21. The U-M Medical School is one of the nation's biomedical research powerhouses, with total research funding of more than $500 million.

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