Visitor Restrictions in Place

Duke Health Hospital Locations (Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital)

Visiting Hours are from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily

All Visitors:

• Must complete health screening at designated entry points.
• Must adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment.
• Must not have a fever or other symptoms of illness.
• Are required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times while on campus and in inpatient rooms (Duke Health issued ear loop masks will be provided and are strongly encouraged. Bandanas and gaiters are not permitted).
• Maintain 6 feet of distance from individuals outside visitor’s household while eating or drinking (where eating and drinking is permitted).
• Must show a form of photo identification upon entering the building.
• Must check-in at the hospital information desk to receive a visitor badge. This is a requirement to enter inpatient spaces.
• Must check out on departure using a kiosk or with the information desk staff.
• Must not leave minor visitors who accompany them unattended (where minor visitors are permitted).

Age 65 or older, pregnant, or immunocompromised people are discouraged from visiting.

We also encourage you to use virtual means to connect with your loved ones using FaceTime and Skype, in place of in-person communication when possible.

Inpatient - Adult

COVID-19 patients:

• One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older is allowed to visit in the room. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team (Please see the definition of Compassionate Care Situations at the end of the page.)
• Must remain in the patient's room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• No eating or drinking in patient rooms is allowed as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.

Non-COVID-19 patients:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older are allowed to visit in a patient room at a time. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• One (1) designated asymptomatic overnight visitor age 18 or older is permitted (Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team). These visitors:
  • Must complete health screening at the hospital’s designated entry points by 9:00 pm.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 9:00 am.
  • Overnight visitation is not permitted in shared patient rooms.
  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

Inpatient – Pediatric

COVID-19 patients:

• One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor is allowed in a patient's room and two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors total are allowed in the hospital. Switching is allowed in 24-hour intervals.
• Visitors must be age 18 or older, unless parent or caregiver of the patient.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• The visitor must remain in the patient's room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• No eating or drinking is allowed in patient rooms as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• One (1) designated asymptomatic overnight visitor age 18 or older unless parent or caregiver of the patient is permitted.
• Must complete health screening at the hospital’s designated entry points by 9:00 pm.
• Must remain in the patient’s room during an overnight visit.
• If the visitor leaves the hospital, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 9:00 am.
• Overnight visitation is not permitted in shared patient rooms.
• If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

Non-COVID-19 patients:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older, unless parent or caregiver of patient, are allowed to visit at a time. No switching. 
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• Two (2) designated asymptomatic overnight visitors age 18 or older, unless a parent or caregiver of the patient, are permitted. Visitors must:
  • Complete health screening at the hospital’s designated entry points by 9:00 pm.
  • Remain in the patient’s room during an overnight visit.
  • If the visitor leaves the hospital, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 9:00 am.
  • Overnight visitation is not permitted in shared patient rooms.
  • If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

End-of-life Inpatient

COVID-19 patients:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• Visitors must remain in the patient's room and may not visit any other locations in the facility.
• No eating or drinking is allowed in patient rooms as this is a high-risk activity for the spread of infection.
• Visiting hours do not apply.

Non-COVID-19 patients:

• Four (4) designated asymptomatic visitors; switching allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
  • Visiting hours do not apply.

Maternity Inpatient/Nursing Mothers

Before birth:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors (one may be a doula) are allowed to visit at a time. No switching is allowed.
• Visiting hours do not apply.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

After birth:

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors are allowed for the length of stay. No switching is allowed.
• Visiting hours do not apply.
• The patient may choose to rescind a doula as one of the patient’s designated visitors and replace with another visitor.
• One (1) designated asymptomatic overnight visitor age 18 or older, unless exception granted, is permitted.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• Visitors must complete health screening at the hospital’s designated entry points by 9:00 pm.
• If the visitor leaves the hospital, the visitor will not be permitted to re-enter until visiting hours begin the following day at 9:00 am.
• Overnight visitation is not permitted in shared patient rooms.
• If a visitor stays overnight and would like to stay the following day, they must be re-screened and receive a new identification badge by noon the following day.

Outpatient: Emergency Department

• One (1) asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older is allowed, unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient or other exception granted, is allowed to visit in the room (as space allows). Switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• One (1) additional asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient or other exception granted) is allowed to wait in the lobby (as space allows). Switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Adult Patients

• One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older in the designated waiting area. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.
• 2 designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older when the patient is placed in a patient room. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Pediatric Patients

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older (unless parent or caregiver of the pediatric patient) are allowed in either the designated waiting area or in the clinical area. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Adult Patients

• One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older in either the designated waiting area or in the clinical area. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Pediatric Patients

• Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older (unless parent or caregiver of the pediatric patient) is allowed in either the designated waiting area or in the clinical area. No switching is allowed.
  • Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Adult Patients

One (1) designated asymptomatic visitor age 18 or older, unless exception granted, in either the designated waiting area or in the clinical area. No switching is allowed.

• Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team.

Exceptions to this policy include:

• An additional aide, assistant, or caregiver may accompany a patient when their presence is required.
• A child/sibling under the age of 12 may accompany a patient when a caregiver has no other reasonable option for childcare.
• An additional child/sibling may accompany the patient when a caregiver has no other reasonable option for childcare.
• Any prior location/clinic-specific restriction may continue to apply.

Pediatric patients

Two (2) designated asymptomatic visitors age 18 or older (unless parent or caregiver of pediatric patient or other exception granted) are allowed either in a designated waiting area or in the clinical area. No switching is allowed.

• Exceptions may be made for end-of-life care and other compassionate care situations as determined by the patient’s care team

Exceptions to this policy include:

• An additional aide, assistant, or caregiver may accompany a patient when their presence is required.
• A child/sibling under the age of 12 may accompany a visitor when the visitor is a patient’s caregiver and has no other reasonable option for childcare.
• An additional child/sibling may accompany the visitor when a visitor is the patient’s caregiver and has no other reasonable option for childcare.

Any prior location/clinic-specific restriction may continue to apply.

Compassionate care situations include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) patient who was living with his or her family before recently being admitted to the facility is struggling with the change in environment and lack of physical family support; (b) a patient who is grieving after a friend or family member recently passed away; or (c) a patient who needs cueing and encouragement with eating or drinking previously provided by family or caregivers, is experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or crying more frequently when the patient had rarely cried in the past.

The persons and agencies tasked with investigating violations of hospital patient visitation are:

• Duke University Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-681-2020
• Duke Regional Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-470-4747
• Duke Raleigh Hospital (Patient & Visitor Relations): 919-862-5848
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: 919-855-4800