Athol Hospital is hoping that a restriction on inpatient visits caused by a spike in COVID cases can be lifted on Monday.

According to a post on the hospital’s Facebook page, the restriction on inpatient visits was put into effect on Friday, Dec. 30. Virtual visits are being offered and families and loved ones can call 978-249-1181 to set up a visit time.

“Visitation will be made available for patients on comfort measures only,” the statement read.

In a statement sent by Director of Infection Prevention Joan Doyle, Athol Hospital instituted the visitor restriction as part of an outbreak response mitigation plan. On Dec. 22, a patient who initially tested negative at the time of admission developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

“Because this was not expected we performed scheduled surveillance testing of all exposed staff as well as the other patients on the unit,” Doyle said in the statement. “Between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29, four additional patients and four staff members also tested positive for COVID-19, indicating an outbreak. At that point we instituted our Outbreak Management Plan which included temporarily closing the unit to visitors, serial surveillance testing of staff and patients and enhanced respiratory protection for all patient encounters.”

The last patient positive was on Dec. 29 and once the hospital has cleared 10 full days with no new cases, will reopen to visitors following the current visitor guidelines. Tentatively that is Monday, Jan. 9, as long as there aren’t any new cases.

“Regionally we are experiencing a very high prevalence and currently Heywood Healthcare has 23 COVID in-patients system wide with the flu adding to the stress on our system,” said Doyle. “Data has shown an anticipated peak in January throughout the Commonwealth, which has contributed to this challenging time.”

According to information provided by the Athol Board of Health, there are 26 verified COVID cases in town as of Jan. 4. There were 22 cases as of the week of Dec. 14, and 10 the week prior. Statewide, 8,327 new cases were reported as of Dec. 29, according to the Department of Public Health (DPH). The seven-day average dropped to a low of 745 in November, and then rose to 1,552 in January.

Free COVID test kits are available in the Athol Health Department in the Town Hall, Room 1. A new shipment was received from the DPH.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-772-0261 or mbowen@recorder.com.

]]>