DAYTON, Ohio — Effectively immediately, all Premier Health inpatient, outpatient and emergency department patients not diagnosed with COVID-19 are allowed visitors again.
Masks will continue to be required for visitors at all times.
In addition to the relaxed guidelines, there are still strict policies in place for hospitalized patients with COVID-19:
- Patients who are positive for COVID-19 may have one visitor at a time
- NICU infants who test positive for COVID-19 may have two visitors at a time
- Patients who are positive for COVID-19 and who are in labor will be allowed two visitors for support
This applies to all Premier Health locations, including Atrium Medical Center, Miami Valley Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital North, Miami Valley Hospital South and Upper Valley Medical Center.
The Dayton-area hospital system is the latest to relax guidelines amid declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center relaxed its visitor policy Thursday, and the Cleveland Clinic made changes to its policy on Tuesday.
As of Thursday, COVID-19 cases declined by 90% since the peak of the omicron surge, said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff.
Ohio’s case rate per 100,000 residents has dropped to 144 for the previous two-week period, which compares to the peak in January of 2,200, Vanderhoff said. As of the latest update, hospitals reported 1,345 patients with COVID-19, down from 6,749 at the peak.
Digital reporter Pete Grieve contributed to this story.
