Six Palm Beach County hospitals loosen visitor restrictions as COVID-19 infections decline

Six Palm Beach County hospitals have loosened restrictions for visitors because coronavirus cases have declined, their owner announced Monday.

Tenet Health runs Delray Beach, Good Samaritan, Palm Beach Gardens, St. Mary's and West Boca medical centers as well as Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.

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Starting today, these are the new visitation rules for those hospitals, Tenet said in a statement:

• One visitor for hospital inpatients, however restrictions may continue for certain areas, including intensive care and COVID units.
• Two visitors will be allowed for pediatric patients.
• One visitor for patients undergoing surgery or having a procedure.
• One visitor for patients having an outpatient or therapy visit.
• One visitor for all emergency room patients.

Visitors exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms may still be denied, the company said. 

Visitors must still check in at hospital entrances and wear a mask.

Just 4.8% of coronavirus tests came back positive last week, Florida health officials reported Friday. That's the first time since June 25 the state reported a positivity level below 5%.

Chris Persaud is a data reporter for The Palm Beach Post.