COVID-19 Visitor Screening

Visitors must wear masks

Thank you for entrusting Hartford Hospital with the care of your loved one — especially as we confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our first priority is the health and safety of our patients, guests, colleagues and community. When entering the hospital, all visitors are screened for signs of illness.

This screening consists of a 5-part process:

Part 1:
Visitors are asked upon arrival “Have you traveled to/from any restricted locations in the past 14 days?”

We use the latest list of restricted states as posted on the State of Connecticut's Coronavirus site. See the list.

If a visitor answers YES, they will not be welcomed into the hospital without written proof of 14-day quarantine in Connecticut.*

  • Visitors will also be screened by Guest Services who will check the visitor's driver’s license or state issued ID card in order to proceed with a visitor sticker.
  • If the license is from a "hotspot" state and the visitor cannot provide proof of quarantine in Connecticut for 14 days, they will not be welcomed into the site.
  • Acceptable proof of a 14-day quarantine includes: dated travel documents or proof of Connecticut residence for >14 days.

If a visitor answers NO, visitors will be asked about testing. See Part 2.

*Considerations may be made for those visiting end-of-life patients.

Part 2:
Visitors are asked "Have you tested positive for the COVID 19 virus in the past 21 days?"

  • If a visitor answers YES, they will not be welcomed into the hospital.
  • If a visitor answers NO, they will be temperature screened. See Part 3.

Part 3:
Temperature screening is performed.

  • If temp is >99.9 then they will not be welcomed into the site.
  • If temp is <99.9 then they will be asked about any symptoms they may have. See Part 4.

Part 4:
Visitors are asked “Do you have any of the following symptoms?”

  • Fever or chills
  • New cough
  • New shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Extreme fatigue
  • New muscle or body aches
  • New headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • New congestion or runny nose
  • New GI symptoms of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

If the visitor answers YES, the visitor will not be welcomed into the hospital, and will be given follow-up instructions.

If the visitor answers NO, they will be welcomed to proceed to the information desk. See Part 5.

Part 5:
Number of visitors per patient is verified.

This verification is performed by Guest Services in the lobby.

  • Non-COVID/non-PUI patients can have one visitor at a time between the hours of 12p-8p*
  • Visitors of patients in semi-private rooms are asked to keep their visits brief; only one visitor per room allowed.
  • Surgical escorts are permitted if they accompany a patient; the approved location for waiting is the surgical family lounge on the Bliss 5 connector.

* Considerations may be made for those visiting end-of-life patients.

For more information