Ohio State Wexner to change visitor policy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center will relax its visitor policy as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline. 

Effective Thursday, Feb. 24, patients who are in the hospital, including those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, will be allowed two named visitors for the duration of their stay. Currently, the policy only allows one named visitor. 

Visiting hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other guidelines are as follows:

• The two named visitors must be the same throughout the patient’s entire stay and no changes are permitted
• Visitors must provide a government-issued ID upon arrival
• Visitors must have no COVID-19 symptoms and have not been recently exposed
• All visitors must wear a mask

The Wexner Medical Center is the latest Ohio hospital to change its visitor policy as the state begins to see a decline in COVID-19 cases. 

Since early January, COVID-19 cases have dropped in Ohio by more than 95%, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Cleveland Clinic relaxed its visitor policy Tuesday, allowing two adult visitors for all patients, including those with COVID-19. Earlier this month, many hospitals resumed elective surgeries after having to postpone due to a rapid spread of the omicron variant and staff shortages.