On Friday, Riverside Health System updated the visitation restrictions in each of its hospitals, including Gloucester’s Riverside Walter Reed Hospital. This was done, a release said, to further protect the health of patients, staff and the community amid the continued spread of novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

In general, a no-visitor policy has been implemented for inpatients at all Riverside hospitals. No visitors will be allowed in Riverside emergency departments. One person will be allowed to accompany patients in the mother/baby and neonatal intensive care units.

In addition, no one will be allowed to accompany inpatients or outpatients into a Riverside facility for any procedures or surgeries. Family members and caregivers will be asked to wait in their vehicles and to provide Riverside staff a cell phone number so that communication can be conducted over the phone.

Those who are giving rides to patients who need assistance entering a Riverside building are being asked to call ahead to make arrangements for the patient to be transported from the car to the area of service.

Riverside understands that there are extenuating circumstances such as end-of-life where exceptions may be made to the no-visitor policy, and those situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, the release stated.

For more information, visit the Riverside website at riversideonline.com or call the hospital being used directly. For more information about COVID-19 and Riverside Health System’s response, visit riversideonline.com/covid-19.