It may soon be easier to visit loved ones in hospitals. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says her department has been working with the Indiana Hospital Association to bring their visitation policies closer to normal, if conditions allow.
“We know that patients’ mental and physical wellbeing improve when they’re able to visit with loved ones in person, not just over a mobile device,” Box said during Wednesday’s press conference, “and our hope is that increased visitation will lead to a quicker recovery for Hoosiers who are currently hospitalized.”
Most area hospitals have been easing their restrictions in recent weeks, but they typically vary from hospital to hospital.
Similarly, Dr. Box said it’s usually okay for elderly residents who are fully vaccinated to visit with friends who are also fully vaccinated without wearing a mask. “Quite honestly, if this is two older friends getting together and they’ve both been vaccinated – I’m assuming they don’t sit right next to each other – but there’s no reason they can’t take their masks off, play bridge together, enjoy a nice lunch, celebrate all those holidays that they’ve missed together,” Box said. “I mean, that’s part of this, is that you get vaccinated so you can start to get back to those things that you love and the people that you love.”
But she noted that more caution may be needed for residents living in congregate settings.
