Greenwich Hospital restores limited visiting hours for non-COVID patients.

GREENWICH — In another positive sign in the town’s battle against COVID-19, Greenwich Hospital has once again relaxed restrictions on visits to patients.

The hospital announced Monday that “after careful consideration and deliberate discussions with clinical leadership,” limited patient visitation will resume, starting Tuesday.

Many restrictions will still be in place, though. Patients may have only one visitor per day, and a rotation of visitors during the day will be permitted only for patients in end-of-life circumstances.

And patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to have visitors, Greenwich Hospital said in a statement.

The one visitor per day rules will be in effect from 2 to 6 p.m. for non-COVID patients in the intensive care unit. Other patients will also be allowed to have one visitor during those hours.

Patients in Greenwich Hospital for same-day surgery are allowed one visitor or support person to accompany them. The Emergency Department will also permit one designated support person for the duration of a patient’s time there, and the visitor must remain in the Emergency Department.

Children in the pediatric unit are allowed to have one parent to stay with them. Patients who are in labor or are in the delivery and maternity wing can have one visitor, too.

Greenwich Hospital had decided in November to restrict visitation as the second wave of the coronavirus was hitting. The number of COVID-19 cases has been going down in recent weeks, while the number of Connecticut residents who have been vaccinated has been going up.

“For several weeks, the state and region have seen a downward trend in hospital admissions, positivity rates and asymptomatic patients,” the hospital said in a statement. “Wastewater studies predict a further decrease in community cases and hospitalization. As always, Greenwich Hospital must balance safety with the provision of compassionate and patientcentered care, fully understanding that the support of family members or care partners can enhance outcomes and the overall patient experience.”

Debi D’Alba, Greenwich Hospital’s director for patient experience, called it “a positive step for our patients and staff given the downward trend in COVID-19 hospitalizations and positivity rates.

“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors once again. We know family and friends can play an important role in the healing process,” she said.

As of Monday, 13 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, Greenwich Hospital said. That is down from the 21 patients who had been admitted on March 3 and down from the 28 who had been admitted on Feb. 24.