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​​In July, OSH announced its plan to resume in-person patient visitation in August, noting that details and timing were still being worked out. Today OSH announced that the plan will be delayed due to Oregon's and Marion County's rapidly climbing COVID-19 testing positivity rates.  

In the two weeks since the visitation plan was first announced, testing positivity rates in Marion County have increased, remaining “high" according to the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC. The positivity testing rate for the state of Oregon has risen from “substantial" to “high." In addition, the hospital's “new cases per 100,000 in the past seven days" is also in the “high" threshold. These statistics are accurate as of Thursday, Aug.9.

Because of the communal living at the state's psychiatric hospital, the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant of COVID-19, and the rising infection rates within the community, OSH reluctantly decided to delay the re-opening of in-person visitation.

“Our goal is to reopen in-person visitation once community positivity rates fall within the CDC “moderate" range," said Dolly Matteucci, OSH Superintendent.
A “moderate" range is a rate below 8 percent. The hospital has committed to evaluating the situation each week.

“This update is disheartening, but our top priority is keeping our patients and staff safe and healthy," acknowledged Matteucci. “Our Visitation Workgroup has developed an excellent visitation plan, so once positivity rates have dropped back down, we will be in good shape to move forward with our much-anticipated reopening."

Updates will be posted on the OSH website. If you have questions, contact the hospital's Ombuds and Family Services Office at 503-947-8109 in Salem and 541-465-2785 in Junction City.