Dear Neighbors,
I am pleased to inform you that the California Department of Public Health has ended the mask mandate for health care settings effective April 3, 2023. Health care staff, patients/residents and visitors should consider wearing a mask based on personal level of risk, the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels and Hoag’s policies. The CDC strongly recommends that patients and visitors who are moderately/severely immunocompromised consider wearing a face mask. Orange County levels currently are low; however, levels do fluctuate and future masking requirements may change.
In addition, Hoag has updated our visitor policy as follows:
– Per CDPH guidelines, all patients (inpatient, outpatient, surgical services, outpatient procedures and outpatient locations) are allowed two visitors at one time.
– Visitation hours will resume normal operations of being available 24 hours a day. Please note that some areas within the hospital restrict visitors at certain times.
– Children of all ages are allowed to visit when accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. Children are not permitted to visit patients in isolation.
– Visitors will have access to the hospital cafeteria.
– Therapy dogs and a patient’s own dog are no longer restricted, but must follow Hoag guidelines.
– Visitors who are ill will not be allowed.
These changes represent a very visible and symbolic end to the pandemic. However, COVID-19 is here to stay and will join a lengthy list of others we have learned to live with, like the flu. I encourage you to get your COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster if you are eligible and have not done so.
We are honored and proud to serve the Orange County community and our pride will be visible as you finally see many of our faces again.
Sincerely,
Robert T. Braithwaite
President and Chief Executive Officer
By: Stu New Newport
