BayCare restricts hospital visitors
March 13, 2020 - BayCare Health System is putting visitor restrictions in place at all its hospitals. Beginning today, BayCare facilities will start screening visitors for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, the disease resulting from the novel coronavirus. Those who are deemed a risk will be restricted from entering the facility and may be referred to an emergency department, the system said in a news release. All children under the age of 18 also are restricted from visiting in what the system called "an abundance of caution." BayCare said it did not come to this decision lightly. Familial and social connections can be important to patients’ recovery and BayCare said it encourages loved ones to leverage video conferencing, such as FaceTime, to keep in touch with patients. BayCare facilities impacted by the restrictions include St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Other facilities are: Bardmoor Emergency Center, BayCare Alliant Hospital, Mease Countryside Hospital, Mease Dunedin Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital, all St. Joseph’s Hospitals, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Morton Plant North Bay, Bartow Regional Medical Center, Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital.