As of Sunday night, emergency room entrances will be the only entry points to Erlanger Health System hospitals between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. All other hospital access points will be locked down during that time period to limit the potential spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from hospital officials.
The new policy applies to the downtown Erlanger Hospital, Children's Hospital at Erlanger, Erlanger East Hospital, Erlanger North Hospital, Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital and Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital.
Erlanger has already been screening all visitors and not allowing those with respiratory symptoms to enter the hospitals. Children under the age of 16 are also not allowed "except under extraordinary circumstances," according to the new release.
Officials said the decision to limit visitors and access points to Erlanger hospitals was made through careful consideration of policies already put in place at area schools, houses of worship and other venues to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Visitation and access policies will remain in place until the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a threat to patients, staff and the community. Access restrictions will also apply to outside vendors and non-essential deliveries, such as food and flowers.
For a full list of requirements on its restricted visitor policy, please go to Erlanger's Facebook page or to its website, www.Erlanger.org/coronavirus.
Erlanger's restricted visitation policy is subject to change should additional screening be required in the future, according to the news release.
Chattanooga's other major health systems - CHI Memorial and Parkridge Health System - have also implemented visitor restrictions in response to COVID-19. More information is available on the Memorial and Parkridge websites.