Morris Hospital expands visitor restrictions

For the safety of the community, Morris Hospital has further restricted visiting at the hospital in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Effective immediately, no visitors are permitted for hospital inpatients. The only exceptions will be one support person for laboring mothers, critical patients, children 17 and younger who are hospitalized or in the emergency department, and patients having surgery or invasive procedures involving sedation

For patients who are at end of life, visitors will be evaluated on a case by case basis. No other visitors are permitted at the hospital or allowed to accompany outpatients. Additionally, anyone who needs to come to the hospital will have their temperature checked before entering.

Beginning March 18, the hospital’s Patient Transportation Service will be limiting its operations for the safety of the volunteers who deliver the service. Hospital staff will fill in in a limited capacity. All impacted riders have been notified.

Anyone in need of the Patient Transportation Service can call 815-705-7250 to discuss possible arrangements.

Hospital officials continue to urge the public to follow the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health's advice: Anyone with mild illness should not come to the hospital or other care centers. Instead, stay home and rest until well.

Testing for COVID-19 is only done for patients who meet very specific criteria. If symptoms progress, call your health care provider.

If you have respiratory symptoms and are planning to seek care at a walk-in clinic, call in advance for instruction. Based on CDC guidelines, the health care provider will evaluate the symptoms by phone and provide instruction.

As always, anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you think you could have coronavirus, tell medical workers in advance so they can prepare for your arrival.

For quick links to the Centers for Disease website, visit morrishospital.org.