To protect patients, visitors, and staff, Monterey County hospitals are implementing new restrictions on visitors to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to hospital staff and patients.

Beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, August 11, all visitors to Monterey County hospitals will be required to:

Show proof of full* COVID-19 vaccination, orShow proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before their visit (can be a PCR or antigen test)

Visitors who are visiting a patient in critical condition, when death may be imminent, are exempt from these vaccination and testing requirements but must follow all mask, personal protective equipment (PPE), and physical distancing requirements.

*Full vaccination as defined by the health order: Two weeks or more after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization), or two weeks or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).

Monterey County hospitals also have additional restrictions for visitors such as limited visiting hours, masking, and number of visitors allowed per patient. To see the full visitor policy for each hospital visit:

• Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula: www.montagehealth.org/visitors
• Natividad Medical Center: www.natividad.com/visitors
• Salinas Valley Medical Center: www.svmh.com/patients-visitors/for-visitors/visiting-guidelines
• Mee Memorial: www.meememorial.com/patients-visitors/coronavirus-information

The State Public Health Officer announced this requirement for all hospitals on August 5, with an implementation date of August 11. To see the full order, click here. According to the health order, unvaccinated persons are more likely to get infected and spread the virus, which is transmitted through the air. Most current hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated persons.

With a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Monterey County, vaccinations are the most effective way to help prevent further spread of the virus and can help to reduce severe illness and hospitalizations.

Monterey County residents and visitors can find testing sites and free vaccination locations on the Monterey County Health Department website: 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Monterey County, CA, or visit your local hospital’s websites dedicated to COVID-19 resources: ·

• Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula: www.montagehealth.org/coronavirus
• Natividad Medical Center: www.natividad.com/covid-19
• Salinas Valley Medical Center: www.svmh.com/patients-visitors/covid-19-vaccine-information
• Mee Memorial: www.meememorial.com/patients-visitors

We appreciate the public’s understanding of these changes as we seek to keep the community, our patients, and our staff safe from COVID-19 and comply with state regulations.