Visitor restrictions in hospitals and senior living communities ease up as coronavirus case numbers decrease

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hospitals and senior living centers are welcoming more visitors as the number of active coronavirus cases in Boone County drops below 100 and vaccine distribution rolls on.

Both MU Health Care and Boone Hospital Center have begun to allow visitors into their hospitals within the last two weeks.

Boone Hospital Center has updated its visitor policy.

Patients at both hospitals may have one designated visitor per day if they are not COVID positive. They also have visitor exceptions in place for obstetric patients, nursery and NICU and patients at the end of their life.

All visitors must be over the age of 16 and will be required to undergo entry screening, wear a mask at all times and wait in the patient's room or specially designated areas.

Mary Beck, MU Health Care Chief of Nursing, said they have similar visitor policies. Patients who are staying overnight will be allowed one person at registration to accompany them.

Beck said at the peak of COVID cases, they were not allowing any visitors within the building.

Now that they are allowing visitors, they will be required to wear a mask the whole time and receive a wrist band or name badge.

Beck said they will continue to make changes for visitor restrictions in the future as case numbers continue to change.

Senior living communities in Columbia have begun to ease their visitor restrictions now that residents are being vaccinated.

Mason Neff with The Village of Bedford Walk said the visitor policy there is restricted to only essential visitors such as home health or nursing aides.

Residents at Bedford Walk have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

"Our second vaccination date is coming up March 12. That will allow us to open up our dining room safely and allow more visiting hours for family," Neff said.

Neff said the community is still focused on resident safety. Bedford Walk is allowing visitors to the area if they can prove they have already been fully vaccinated.

If visitors are permitted, social distancing and mask-wearing practices will still be enforced.

Laura Draffen at The Terrace Retirement community said they are still not allowing visitors into their buildings. Residents at The Terrace will also receive their second doses on March 12.

Because The Terrace is independent living, their residents have been allowed to come and go as they please. They have been able to visit with anyone, as long as they meet outdoors or off campus.

Draffen said after the second doses, they hope to ease the visitor policy.

Other communities may have different restrictions depending on where they are in the vaccination process.

Check back for more on this developing story and watch ABC 17 News at 6:30.