LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) -- Centra announced Monday that they will be prohibiting visitors at all four of their hospitals amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"We want to thank our communities for their support and patience as we continue to implement changes," they wrote in a statement. "It is our sincere hope these changes will ultimately make this community stronger in preventing this virus from spreading to our most vulnerable friends and neighbors."
Effective at 5 p.m. Monday, March 16, Centra is prohibiting visitors at Lynchburg General, Virginia Baptist, Southside Community Hospital, Bedford Memorial Hospital, and Gretna Emergency Department.
Routine visitors will not be allowed in Centra hospitals until further notice.
Outpatients who have scheduled appointments in the hospitals will be allowed entry.
Very narrow exceptions to this “no visitor” policy will be considered.
Centra is also canceling non-essential surgeries and procedures, consistent with other health systems across the country following the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendation this weekend.
For more on this story, visit our media partner ABC 13 - WSET or the Centra Health Website.