“Limited visitation” will be allowed from Sunday for acute care and long term care patients at the island’s hospitals.

Bermuda Hospitals Board announced the move as the island’s coronavirus cases dropped enough to relax restrictions.

Two visitors can call on patients in the acute care ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital from noon to 8pm, while one visitor at a time is allowed for acute care patients in the General Wing during the same hours.

Long-term care patients will be permitted one visitor for two hours a day.

Norma Smith, vice president of clinical operations for acute and ambulatory, said BHB was “very happy that the mothers in long term care or acute care ward will be able to reconnect in person on Mother’s Day”.

Physical distancing rules in the Emergency Department and Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre require patients at the Emergency Department to attend alone.

A companion will be permitted for patients deemed vulnerable or under age 18, or if the patient is combative or near end of life.

In cases when patients die, ED will only permit up to three companions in the ED family room.

Chikezie Dean Okereke, chief of emergency, said while there were circumstances when patients needed a companion, there was limited space outside of the stated exceptions to maintain physical distancing and safety.

Visitors at all BHB facilities must remain masked and maintain physical distancing, including in patient rooms

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms or signs of infection will be barred from visiting.

Recent travellers should only visit after a negative day 14 test and visitors must use public restrooms instead of patient bathrooms.

Overnight stays are not allowed, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Acute care patients in the Acute Care Wing’s Ace Barber, Ascendant Partner Re, Catlin Lindo units who are not on isolation can have up to two visitors in their room between noon and 8pm.

Acute care patients in the General Wing’s Curtis Ward are permitted one visitor in their room between noon and 8pm.

Patients on isolation due to an infection, or during the first 24 hours from admission while waiting for results of their Covid-19 test, are permitted two pre-identified support people to visit for up to two hours per day.

In the Intensive Care Unit, designated support people are allowed to visit for two hours between 10am and 2pm, or 4pm and 8pm.

Visitors must be on the ICU visitors' list.

For maternity, one designated support person may stay up to eight hours after the birth.

The visitor is allowed up to 4 hours a day between 10am and 6pm if the mother is not discharged within 24 hours.

Doulas will be allowed for the birth with a support person

For acute inpatient care at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute’s adult, child and adolescent services, one pre-identified supporter can visit for 30 minutes each day between noon and 6pm, after checking in at the front desk.

Visits are limited to public spaces such as a family conference room.

For long term care at KEMH and MWI, including group homes, one designated support person can visit for two hours daily between noon and 6pm.

No isolated patients can have visitors.