After years of limiting visiting hours, things are returning to normal at St. Lawrence Health’s three North Country Hospitals.

Canton-Potsdam, Gouverneur, and Massena hospitals are now permitting visitors from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Emergency Departments (ED) at each hospital are permitting one visitor to accompany a patient receiving care, and there are no restrictions regarding ED visiting hours.

To help protect the safety of staff, patients, and visitors, the following COVID-19 guidelines will remain in place:

Two visitors are allowed at a time at the bedside during visiting hours.

Visitation is permitted for any patient, including those on Isolation Precautions.

At the request of the patient, clergy may be permitted to visit the patient, and may do so in addition to any visitor or support person without counting toward any visitor or support person limitations.

Visitors must be 12 years of age or older.

Virtual visitation is encouraged whenever possible. Virtual visitation includes whatever

electronic device the patient prefers, regardless of whether it is the patient's own device (cell phone) or a device they receive for the purpose of improving communication (tablet specifically designed for video telephony).

The identified care partner will be allowed to visit 24/7 when deemed to be in the best interest of the patient.

Patients undergoing same-day procedures may be accompanied to the facility by a visitor for pre-procedure (surgery) and post-procedure (surgery). Pediatric patients undergoing procedures may have up to two (2) visitors.

The visitor(s) must remain masked at all times, and must maintain social distancing and hand hygiene.

Complete details pertaining to SLH hospital visitor restrictions may be found online at https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/visitor-guidelines.