Morton Hospital tightens visitation rules as COVID surges in Taunton
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TAUNTON — If you plan to take a loved one or friend to Morton Hospital, be aware that you might not be let in. The hospital has rolled back its visitation rules as COVID cases and hospitalizations surge citywide.
As of the most recent statewide report on Thursday, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have nearly doubled in the Silver City.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that there were 26 people hospitalized with COVID at Morton. There were 15 the previous week. Three of those people are in the intensive care unit.
Starting Wednesday, Morton tightened its rules on visitation. Julie Masci, a spokesperson for the Steward Health Care facility, said Morton made the move in consultation with public health agencies.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Morton Hospital updated its visitation policy effective Dec. 1," Masci wrote in an email. "The revised protocols aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 will help us best protect our patients and staff, and are similar to policies implemented at many other hospitals in the Commonwealth."
The new rules restrict visitation in the following ways, unless the hospital grants an exception:
For outpatients, no guest or family member will be allowed inside, including in the waiting room.
For surgical patients, no visitors will be allowed inside before or after the procedure. Hospital staff will meet visitors at the entrance when dropping off or picking up a patient.
There are several exceptions to the rules above, including the following:
Children may have one parent or guardian accompany them.
For patients in end-of-life care, exceptions must be approved by the hospice care team.
Patients who have physical and intellectual disabilities may have one support person, provided the person passes COVID screening and is over 18.
If you want to check current visitation rules, the hospital updates its policy guidelines on its website, https://www.mortonhospital.org/. Masci said additional questions may be directed to the hospital's main line at 508-828-7000.
Taunton COVID cases highest since January
Thursday's weekly state public health report showed the highest weekly total of new COVID cases since Jan. 28, when the city was still in the grips of a winter virus surge. The surge that the city has been experiencing for several months now continues.
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There were 241 new cases of COVID reported in Taunton over the last week. The last time a higher total was reported was on Jan. 28, when there were 243.
Overall, Mass. DPH reported 662 new cases of COVID in the Greater Taunton area — including Taunton, Berkley, Dighton, Raynham, Norton, Freetown, Lakeville, Middleboro and Rehoboth.
The city's positivity rate has climbed steadily for a month now, reaching 7.30% this week, up from 5.75% last week. The state's seven-day average was 4.94% as of Thursday.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 8,688 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city. The running two-week case total is 409, and the city's daily incidence rate this past week was 50.7 per 100,000 in population.
On Thursday, state health officials also reported 5,170 new cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, bringing the total to 865,450 confirmed cases statewide since the pandemic began.
Officials also reported 31 new COVID-related deaths. More than 19,000 Massachusetts residents have died of COVID since the pandemic began. The state's death toll is now 19,047 people.
Over the last two weeks, DPH says that 22 people have died in Bristol County.
Bristol County COVID vaccine tracker: 60% of people fully vaccinated
Overall, Taunton has reached 61% full vaccination. As of the latest report, that is 35,337 people in the city.
Sixty-eight percent, or 39,401 people, have received at least one dose.
Someone is considered fully vaccinated when they are two weeks out from receiving either a one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine or the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccines are all free, and some locations that offer the vaccine accept walk-ins. Visit the state's Vaxfinder website to book an appointment, or call 211. The city of Taunton posts COVID updates on its website.
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@tauntongazette.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton Morton: COVID spike prompts Hospital to rollback visitation
