Sanford hospitals limit visitors after regional respiratory illness rise

Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and Sanford Bagley Medical Center updated visitor restrictions after a regional uptick in respiratory illnesses, putting new limits into effect at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The hospitals set visiting hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and put in place rules intended to reduce transmission risk while preserving essential family access.

Under the new policies, patients may have up to four visitors per day, with the hospitals recommending no more than two visitors in the patient room at the same time. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, and in cases where an emotional support person is appropriate one visitor may stay overnight. People who are ill or showing symptoms are asked not to visit, and anyone recently exposed to a respiratory illness or visiting a patient with a respiratory infection must wear a mask.

Specific restrictions apply in higher-risk settings. The Special Care Nursery now allows no more than two visitors at one time; visitors must be at least 6 years old, must always wear masks and visits are limited to 15 minutes. For patients with COVID-19 in isolation, visitors should be kept to a minimum, must wear masks and should limit their time in the facility beyond the patient room. Visitors who see an isolated patient are asked to mask around others for 10 days after the visit and watch themselves for symptoms.

Hospital leadership said department directors may accommodate specific visitation requests at their discretion, and patients showing signs of illness are encouraged to wear masks. The changes are aimed at slowing spread in the health care setting and protecting people who are most vulnerable to severe disease, including newborns, older adults and those with chronic conditions.

For Beltrami County residents this affects family caregivers who travel across town for support, parents with newborns, and people who depend on in-person visits for decision making or emotional care. In rural communities, where household networks and informal caregiving often substitute for paid services, tighter visitor rules can strain households that already face transportation, work and child care constraints. The overnight emotional support allowance recognizes that some patients need continuous accompaniment, but the limits highlight the tension between infection control and equitable access to care.

Health systems balance protecting patients and staff with keeping families connected. If you plan a hospital visit, check in advance with the unit caring for your loved one about exception processes and mask requirements, bring your own well-fitting mask, and consider designating one or two consistent visitors to reduce exposure.

Our two cents? Think ahead and coordinate with your family and care team - a short, masked visit now can prevent a longer disruption later.