Cooley Dickinson Hospital Announces New Visitor Restrictions Due to COVID-19

NORTHAMPTON — Effective Thursday, Dec. 10 at noon, visitors are no longer allowed at Cooley Dickinson Hospital given the daily increase in COVID-19 infection rates in the community.

Limited exceptions will be made in some areas, including end-of-life care, if the patient is unable to communicate for themselves, or at the discretion of the care team. If an exception is granted, only one visitor will be allowed during the patient’s stay.

For the Childbirth Center, one labor support person will be allowed and must remain with their partner for the duration of the laboring person’s hospital stay. If the visitor chooses to leave the Childbirth Center, they will not be able to come back in.

Ambulatory services, such as lab services and diagnostic imaging, are open and caring for outpatients following the hospital’s “Safe Care Commitment,” and procedures that have been put in place to socially distance patients and to allow for cleaning between patients remain in effect. Cooley Dickinson Medical Group practices, rehabilitation services (physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy), and urgent care also continue to see patients in person and virtually.

These visitor restrictions have been put in place to protect patients and the workforce, and to continue to provide the safest care possible during the second surge of the pandemic. Keeping the community safe is Cooley Dickinson’s top priority.