The COVID-19 surge is prompting changes over safety to visitation polices at some hospitals on the Central and South Coasts.
Cottage Health announced most patient visitation will be stopped at its hospitals in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Dignity Health officials say that limited patient visitation rules will be in effect at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.
In many cases, it will be one visitor a day. Visitors will have to be vaccinated, or have negative test results within 72 hours of the visit. And, the lobby areas of the Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria hospitals will be closed.
