Strong Memorial Hospital temporarily changing visitation policy

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Strong Memorial Hospital will change its patient visitor policy on Thursday, allowing only one designated visitor per patient.

The new policy will take place starting at 8 a.m. on January 20, a response to the current Omicron COVID surge, leading to many more patients as of late.

Patients can currently have two designated visitors for the duration of their stay. The new policy slices that down to just one.

There are some exceptions – on both sides. The Emergency Department already has one visitor allowed. For the time being, they won’t be allowed to have any.

Pediatric patients will still be able to have two visitors.

The temporary changes only apply to Strong Memorial Hospital. Each hospital in the UR Medicine system is able to set visitation numbers based on its own ability to function safely.

There is no date on when the changes are expected to be lifted.