SPRINGFIELD — With the number of positive COVID-19 cases continuing to decrease locally, Baystate Health has announced changes to its hospital visitation guidelines, effective March 17.
According to a Baystate Health press release, the changes — which are effective at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield, Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer and Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield — are as follows:
■Regular inpatient and critical care units (non-COVID-19): Two visitors/care partners are allowed at a time (previously one at time), unless a designated exception applies.
■Inpatient obstetrics (non-COVID-19): One designated care partner will be permitted for labor, delivery and the duration of a birth patient’s hospital stay, and can come and go throughout the day. Two additional care partners may offer support during labor and delivery, and may stay for up to two hours after birth. In the postpartum recovery period, patients may have an additional two visitors at once during general visitation hours.
Children ages 5 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult when visiting a patient (previously no children under 18 were permitted), unless a designated exception applies, the release states. Visiting hours are from noon to 8 p.m.
For Baystate medical practices:
■One visitor/support person is allowed (previously no visitors).
■Two parents/guardians are allowed at a time for pediatric patients (previously one parent/guardian).
■Two support persons/visitors are allowed for patients with disabilities (previously one support person/visitor).
All visitors must adhere to Baystate Health’s infection control practices, which entail wearing masks at all times, whether in the patient’s room or other areas of the hospital, and washing their hands frequently. The release states visitors with a fever, cough or other COVID-19 symptoms will not be able to visit.
Baystate Health regularly evaluates its visitation policy in accordance with the governor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state Department of Public Health (DPH). For the most up-to-date visitation policies, visit baystatehealth.org/patients/visiting.
After two years of meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses are being encouraged to begin holding in-person meetings again during the week of April 1.
Since March 2020, when buildings of worship were closed and public ministry was suspended, Jehovah’s Witnesses have carried on their ministry through letters and phone calls while holding twice-weekly meetings in a virtual format.
“There is a collective shout of joy among Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world right now,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said in a press release. “While we have prospered in many ways as individuals and congregations using technology to bring us together, nothing can adequately replace being together in person. We have longed for this moment for the better part of two years.”
The move back to in-person meetings coincides with two global events being held in all 120,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The first is a lecture scheduled in most congregations for April 10 titled, “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” Additionally, the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ will be held on April 15. According to the press release, both of these gatherings will be held in person at local Kingdom Halls with live speakers.
“The timing of resuming in-person meetings could not be better,” Hendriks said. “Bringing everyone back together for these special events will have a powerful effect on the worldwide congregation.”
Guidelines for holding hybrid meetings have been sent to all congregations in the United States, the release continues. Over the past six months, many Kingdom Halls have been equipped with the required technology to hold meetings that allow for both in-person and remote attendance. A pilot program was held in October and November to assess how this could be done most effectively.
“It has been heartwarming to see the peace and unity among Jehovah’s Witnesses during this very divisive time,” Hendriks said. “We know resuming in-person meetings will bring us even closer together. We’re anxious to see one another again.”
As of now, the release states, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no plans to resume public ministry, though their alternative ministry continues.