Harrington Hospital limits visitors amid COVID case increase

Photo | Grant Welker Harrington Hospital in Webster

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UMass Memorial-Harrington will not allow visitors in the emergency departments of its Webster and Southbridge campuses, the hospital announced Friday afternoon, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases.

At the same time, the hospital will prohibit visitors in the adult medical/surgical unit at its Southbridge campus, according to a social media post announcing the change.

The change came just hours before the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected in a Middlesex County female resident in her 20s, the first such detection of the variant in Massachusetts. The COVID version labeled a variant of concern by the World Health Organization is being studied but scientists are unsure how it compares to the Delta variant, which spread globally over the fall.

UMass Memorial Health said on Monday morning no plans are in place to further restrict visitors at its other campuses, although UMass wanted to underscore all visitors must wear masks in public areas and patient rooms.

Visitor restrictions vary by department at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, the network’s flagship hospital. Current policies on the website, dated from September, indicate one visitor is permitted in the emergency department for non-COVID related adult patients. No visitors are allowed in surgical areas.

At UMass Memorial Health-Marlborough, visitors are not allowed in the emergency department except under certain circumstances, with policies varying in other departments.

In Leominster, at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, no visitors are allowed effective Nov. 26, per the hospital’s website. Exceptions are provided for end-of-life patients and birthing patients.