Visitor Policy: Yale New Haven Health

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and for the safety of our patients and staff, visitation is currently limited at our hospitals and outpatient facilities. This includes visitation to inpatients, emergency departments, outpatient surgeries and procedural areas.

Exceptions to this policy may be made for ADA hospital support person or end of life.

Current restrictions for COVID negative patients only:

• Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Emergency Department: One support person per patient.
• Emergency Department: One visitor over the age of 18 per patient 24/7.
• Adult Inpatient (including maternal special care): Two visitors per patient, per day, from 10a-8p (together or separately). Visitors must be 12 years old or older. Visitors aged 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Procedural Areas (HVC / IR / DH, etc.): One visitor over the age of 18 may accompany the patient to their procedure.
• Operating rooms: Two visitors over the age of 18 may accompany the patient to their surgery.
• Obstetrics: Two visitors over the age of 18 allowed during labor and delivery, provided the patient has a confirmed negative COVID test. Second support person must leave after delivery; primary support person may visit outside of visiting hours. Second support persons not allowed for planned cesarean deliveries. *Support person is permitted for COVID positive mothers.
• Adult Ambulatory Areas (Radiology / Lab / YM / NEMG, etc.) One visitor over the age of 18 to accompany patient allowed.
• Children's Inpatient and NNICU: Two visitors over the age of 18 per patient from 10a-8p (together or separately). One caregiver may stay overnight. Caregivers can swap out daily.
• Children's Outpatient: Two visitors over the age of 18 permitted.
• Psychiatry: Visits must be pre-scheduled through the assigned social worker and are limited to 30 minutes per day. Two family members/primary supports over the age of 18 (who may be from separate households) permitted per patient.

Proof of Vaccination / Screening:

Yale New Haven Health will no longer require hospital visitors to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Visitors and patients will still be required to wear masks in all Yale New Haven Health facilities.

While our region has high vaccination rates, and a declining infection rate, Yale New Haven Health will periodically reassess the need for a testing requirement based on the latest science, COVID-19 variants, and evolving state of the pandemic, and may reinstitute testing – or vaccine requirements – for visitors if necessary to protect our patients, their families and our employees.

Current restrictions for COVID positive patients:

• One visitor per patient, per day.
• Visitors may visit for one hour between 10a-8p.
• Children's: One caregiver per patient who must shelter in place.
• Visitors must don full PPE.
• Visitors must be over the age of 18.

Face Coverings:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that masking is a critical public health tool for preventing spread of COVID-19. To the extent possible, patients and visitors must wear a health system approved mask while at any of Yale New Haven Health’s hospitals, outpatient centers, ambulatory sites or clinics. Masks are to cover both the nose and mouth. Patients and visitors who arrive with a cloth mask, gaiter, bandana or mask with exhalation valves will be provided a health system approved face mask. Learn more about face masks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thank you for your help in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 in our communities.

Please call the Yale New Haven Health
call center with questions:
833-ASK-YNHH (833-275-9644)