Tucson Medical Center Allowing Visitors Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

TUCSON — Tucson Medical Center will now allow visitors in its hospital for the first time since March when the coronavirus forced hospitals to increase safety precautions.

The decision makes the medical center the first hospital in Pima County and one of the first in the state of Arizona to allow visitors since the pandemic began.

“When people have medical issues, they need their loved ones, especially when they first arrive, when they need emergency care and on their day of discharge,” said Judy Rich, CEO and President of TMC HealthCare, in a statement. “Those connections are vital to healing and recovery. We are so happy to bring visitors back for our patients during these critical times.”

Visitors can now enter patient rooms, but restrictions will be enforced. Patients will only be allowed to have one visitor at a time and only one visitor will be allowed in the room during the patient's admission. The same goes for discharge day.

The medical center previously allowed visitors to be with loved ones through a window or patio in the hospital's large courtyard. Exceptions were made for pediatric patients and mothers in labor; each were allowed one companion.