Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside implements no visitor policy amid coronavirus outbreak

Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside has instituted a no visitors policy as coronavirus cases continue to spike. 

In a news release, hospital officials said the facility "is taking extra precautions to provide the safest environment possible and protect our patients, staff, and visitors due to the escalating COVID-19 emergency."

All visitors were prohibited from the hospital as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.  The edict includes visitors to the emergency departments, inpatient units, ambulatory sites and other facilities, with an exception for the following circumstances: 

--Pediatrics/NICU:  One healthy visitor allowed

--Maternity and postpartum:  One healthy partner allowed

--End of life/palliative care:  One healthy visitor allowed

--Ambulatory geriatrics:  One healthy visitor allowed

--Discharge:  One healthy visitor allowed to pick up discharged patients

--For the emergency departments: For patients requiring assistance, one healthy visitor is allowed. Only one visitor per pediatric patient is allowed in the pediatric ED (parent or caregiver only).

"While these are difficult changes, they are necessary steps aimed at achieving our top priority: the safety and health of our staff and patients," the hospital said in a release. 

Mount Sinai South Nassau is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and its visitor policy may be altered as the need arises. The hospital reserves the right to turn away visitors who exhibit cold or flu-like symptoms. If you have a cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.

The change comes a day after MSSN announced its first coronavirus related death, an 83-year-old Queens man . On Wednesday, County Exeuctive Laura Curran announced that there are now 278 cases countywide.

For more information about COVID-19, go to www.mountsinai.org/SouthNassau.