WILMINGTON — ChristianaCare will limit visitation to its facilities and require proof of vaccination or a negative test, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have been guided by data and science to ensure that we are taking the most appropriate steps to ensure safe care and a safe environment for our patients, visitors and caregivers,”  Sharon Kurfuerst,  ChristianaCare chief operating officer, said in a prepared statement.  “The increased spread of COVID-19, driven especially by the delta variant and spread among people who are still unvaccinated, is creating significant challenges. It is vitally important that everyone in the community get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

The following patient visitation guidelines will go into effect Monday, Aug. 23:

• Inpatients in Christiana, Wilmington and Union hospitals may have one visitor daily between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The visitor must be the same person for the entire day. Visitors must be age 16 or older.
• Patients having outpatient surgery may have one support person accompany them. Support persons must be age 16 or older.
• Visitors for inpatients and support people accompanying patients for surgery must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a negative COVID-19 test within the prior 72 hours. Fully vaccinated is defined as having completed their first and second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or their single dose of Johnson & Johnson.
• All visitors and surgical support people must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Digital and paper copies of a negative COVID-19 test will be accepted.
• All support persons/visitors will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and will not be permitted entry if they do not pass the screening.
• Individuals coming to the emergency department may have one support person accompany them; that person must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals admitted to the hospital from the emergency department may be permitted one visitor daily, but that visitor must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the prior 72 hours.
• Patients in Labor & Delivery may have two support people accompany them, one of whom may be a doula. Both support people must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Once admitted after delivery, patients may have one support person who must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in the prior 72 hours.
• Patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit may have two visitors, one of whom is a parent or guardian.

Visitors should allow extra time for the screening process. Visitors must remain masked at all times in the hospital's facilities, even if they are vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test.