Coronavirus: Dayton VA Medical Center begins visitor restriction program

The Dayton VA Medical Center is adding details to the visitor restrictions aimed at limiting exposure risk to any of our veterans or their medical providers during the coronavirus pandemic.

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For inpatients, including our Community Living Center (or nursing home) residents, there will be no more visitors, officials said in a statement issued Monday night.

“We will continue, of course, to make an exception for any veterans who have reached the final stages of their life. In these unique end-of-life cases, immediate family members will be limited strictly to the veteran’s room only, to ensure the rest of the Veterans remain safe from possible infection,” VA officials said.

For outpatients, veterans will be permitted to bring one individual with them for assistance. This individual must not have any flu-like symptoms and must be 16 years of age or older. No children younger than age of 16 can be permitted on campus at this time.

The Dayton VA Medical Center also is temporarily pausing the volunteer program for the safety of both our volunteers and veterans. No volunteers will be permitted on campus until further notice.

For our Enhanced Use Leases (or campus tenants not operated by the VA but provide services to veterans), Dayton VA will continue to permit staff and residents onto campus, but ask them to join us in barring all visitors who are not medically necessary.

Drivers -- including buses, shuttles, Uber, Lyft, taxis and others will be allowed to enter the campus to drop off or pick up veterans and staff. Flowers and food deliveries may be made at the front desk.

In all scenarios, visitors will continue to be screened at every gate. Those who have flu-like symptoms will be turned away, unless they are a veteran requiring emergency care.