The Schneider Regional Medical Center announced Saturday that it has suspended all in-person patient visits at its St. Thomas hospital and the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John, in line with the latest guidelines issued by the V.I. Department of Health related to Covid-19.

In making the announcement, the hospital said the health and safety of its patients, employees, visitors, and community remain a top priority.

“We understand how these restrictions may be difficult for patients and family members alike, but these measures are in place to help protect our patients, staff, and community from the spread of Covid-19,” said hospital CEO Tina M. Comissiong.

According to the release, limited exceptions are made in certain circumstances, such as patients receiving end-of-life care; birth partners of maternity patients; and essential support persons of patients with special needs, including those with mental or physical disabilities. “Under these circumstances, such patients may have one support person accompany them in the hospital. Approved persons visiting our facilities must wear a mask covering the nose and mouth and be subject to health screening, temperature scan, and other infection control protocols,” stated the hospital.

SRMC said it also offers secured virtual communication options that allow all patients to remain connected with their loved ones while they are hospitalized.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation and understanding as we continue to adapt and respond to the changing Covid-19 environment,” SRMC further stated. “We also thank our excellent SRMC staff for their ongoing commitment to providing the best quality patient care during these challenging times.” See the hospital’s complete visitation guideline here.

According to D.O.H., there were 347 active Covid-19 infections territory-wide as of Friday: 207 on St. Croix, 135 on St. Thomas, and 5 on St. John. SRMC reported no hospitalizations, while the Juan F. Luis Hospital hasn’t posted any recent updates. The territory-wide positivity rate was 8.14 percent.

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