COVID-19 in Włodawa. Visitor restrictions have been introduced at the hospital ward.

• The management of the hospital in Włodawa decided to limit visits to one of the wards due to the "observed increase in COVID-19 cases"
• Mandatory masks are also back
• Rynek Zdrowia asked the director of the facility about the details of the decision.
• He assures that visits are not suspended, but protective measures have been introduced.

"Due to the observed increase in COVID-19 cases and in the interests of the safety of hospitalized patients and staff," the management of the hospital in Włodawa, together with the hospital infection control team, has introduced restrictions on visits to the general surgery department with the trauma-orthopedic and phlebotomology sub-departments.

In exceptional situations, in patients in the terminal phase of the disease and in the event of a sudden deterioration of health, visits to patients are possible with the consent of the Head of the Department/doctor on duty.

The visitor must wear a mask covering the mouth and nose and follow the staff's instructions.

Staff have the right to refuse visits to people who show visible symptoms of infection," we read in a statement on the hospital's website.

This notice about the visitor restriction appeared on the hospital website on Thursday, August 22nd, and the visitor restriction will remain in effect until further notice.

We asked the facility management about the details of the decision.

Acting director of the facility, Artur Szczupakowski, admitted in an interview with Rynek Zdrowia that such a visitor restriction has been implemented, but it is not a ban on visits and applies only to one ward. "The visitor restriction applies only to one ward," he explained.

He adds that the decision is due to the fact that some medical staff have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

"Because these staff members had contact with patients, the decision was made to prevent the spread of the disease and extinguish any potential outbreak here. As with the flu, hospitals often suspend or limit patient visits," explains Artur Szczupakowski.

He says the hospital is functioning normally, as is the surgical ward, and patients can meet with visiting family members, but they are asked to disinfect their hands and wear a mask.

- We also ask you not to come to the ward with small children - adds the head of the Włodawa hospital.

He also reports that patients are being tested for COVID-19, but no infection has been detected yet. "These tests turned out negative. This is a standard preventative measure," he explains.

Artur Szczupakowski emphasizes his duty of care to both patients and their families, hence the decision to limit visits. He says this is a preventative measure after several cases of illness were detected among staff.

"Nothing out of the ordinary happened here. But the principle is that prevention is better than cure. And these decisions were made in accordance with that principle," he states.

He assures that he is in contact with the Włodawa sanitary-epidemiological station.

He also reassures that the restrictions on visits will most likely be lifted on Monday.

"This isn't an absolute ban, just a restriction. There's no problem visiting a patient or family member, as long as you wear a mask and disinfect your hands," the facility's director told our editorial team.

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