In response to the recent increase in the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level for the area to High, as well as the increase in new COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last seven days, Hendrick Health announced Friday it will move its Community COVID-19 Safety Dial to Level 4: Severe, effective Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.

Level 4: Severe will affect visitation and masking policies for all Hendrick Health inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Masks will be required for individuals inside Hendrick facilities, regardless of vaccination status.

All patients and visitors will check-in at a screening station upon entering the facilities. Identification will be needed for this process.

The visitation policy will decrease the number of visitors to one visitor per patient in a Hendrick facility at a time; exceptions may apply. For COVID-19 patients, one visitor will be permitted in the facility at a time, allowing for two visitors per day.

Additionally, all support groups are suspended at this time.

Hendrick continues to encourage community members to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by practicing good hand hygiene, getting vaccinated, staying home when feeling sick and testing for COVID-19 if exhibiting symptoms or if have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.

To learn more about visitation to Hendrick Health visitation and masking policies, visit hendrick.health/visithendrick. For the CDC Community Level tracker, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.