Sierra View Medical Center

A year of no visitors in hospitals has made for lonely goodbyes and anticlimactic hellos. But since Covid-19 is on the decline, Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville is allowing one visitor in its phase one of reopening to the public.

The reopening — part of a multi-phased approach — comes as Covid-19 in-patients and ICU bed capacity have declined.

Admitted patients can select one unique visitor in the medical/surgical and critical care departments.

Pediatric patients, those nearing the end of life, those giving birth and medical/surgical or ICU patients can each select one visitor as well.

Visitors to these departments must have no signs or symptoms of Covid-19, and must not be in the process of testing for Covid-19. The visitor must be a dedicated visitor, and can not be changed out with others. Visitation times are from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If an end-of-life patient has contracted Covid-19, one visitor is still allowed into the hospital, but the visitor cannot enter the room.

Visitors must enter through the front entrance, and go only to the patient’s room after a health screening. Once in the room, visitors are directed to use the call button to request a nurse instead of walking outside the room. Click here for full details about visitor information.