COVID-19 Information Center

At Main Line Health we're committed to the care and well-being of our patients and visitors, our employees and our community. As COVID-19 cases continue to spike around the country and uncertainty remains about the effects of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the Omicron variant, we strictly follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention guidance on vaccination recommendations and health and safety standards to protect you and your loved ones against coronavirus transmission and related illness.

And thank you for your patience during this challenging time for all of us. Please be kind to yourself, your neighbors, and your health care workers.

COVID-19 testing and care

Find information about COVID-19 testing and safety protocols in place across Main Line Health as well as surgical and medical appointment information and more in our COVID-19 frequently asked questions.

Currently, Main Line Health is not offering COVID-19 testing to patients or members of the public.

The only exceptions are Main Line Health patients entering our emergency departments who are experiencing symptoms or who are scheduled for urgent, emergent surgery or procedures and need the required presurgical testing.

If you are feeling ill, please contact your health care professional, or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency department. If you are in need of a COVID test, please seek out a community testing site or at-home test kit.

Main Line Health emergency departments are prioritizing patients with critical illness and those with medical conditions requiring emergency care. We strongly discourage patients who are asymptomatic (without symptoms) or have mild symptoms from coming to the emergency room. It's important that we preserve resources for members of the community who have emergent medical needs.

Have symptoms that concern you?

Use our self-assessment tool to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care.

Take COVID-19 self-assessment

COVID symptoms include (but are not limited to):

• Congestion or runny nose
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• New loss of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat

If you have any of these COVID-19 symptoms or suspect you have been exposed, talk to your provider about testing. View a list of Pennsylvania COVID-19 Viral Testing locations.

Visitation guidelines

Due to the latest COVID surge, our visitor policy has changed as of December 25, 2021.

We understand the importance of visiting friends, family and loved ones in the hospital. While you are with us, please follow these visitation guidelines for everyone's safety:

• Masks are required at all times. Gaiters, bandanas and masks with a valve are not acceptable.
• Visitors may not remove their masks to eat or drink.
• Visitors and patients may leave the patient room during the visit. Both must be masked and maintain social distance from other patients, visitors and staff.
• Visitors must practice hand hygiene and social distancing.
• Visitors may not use the restrooms in the patient room. Visitors should use public restrooms.
• Visitors may not visit patients for one hour after completion of an aerosol-generating procedure-regardless of visitor approval status or individual COVID status.
• Visitors may not be in the room during an extubation (removal of a previously inserted tube, such as a catheter or a feeding tube). Visitors may not enter a room until one hour after the extubation is complete.

Please follow the guidance listed above and respect the instruction and guidance of unit or department staff.

How many visitors are allowed?

Each inpatient is permitted to have one visitor per day and all visitors must be approved by the patient's care team.

What about emergency department (ED) support visitors?

Patients entering our emergency departments are not permitted to have a support person with them.

However, there are some exceptions:

• Minors accompanied by an adult over 18 years of age
• Patients requiring 24-hour caregiver assistance
• Patients with cognitive deficiencies
• Hospice patients at end of life

If you are a supporting visitor, you must be approved by the ED clinical care team when you arrive. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Prepare for your visit

Mask policy

Patient and employee safety are priorities at Main Line Health as we continue to provide exceptional care to the community. The CDC emphasizes that its masking recommendations for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do NOT apply to health care settings.

Health care settings have more strict masking guidelines per CDC guidance-regardless of a person's vaccination status.

This means that all staff, patients, residents and visitors should continue to wear masks as recommended in all health care facilities. At Main Line Health, we still require everyone to wear a mask on our campuses per the CDC's guidance. As a health care provider, we believe mask-wearing will help keep safe all who enter our buildings and campuses.

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