Local hospitals slowly lifting COVID-19 restrictions

There's good news for people who have loved ones in the hospital: healthcare facilities across the Triangle are loosening COVID-19 restrictions.

During the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals cut down on the number of visitors allowed per patient to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Duke Health announced on Monday that it is now allowing one overnight visitor per patients. Previously, only women having a baby and people at the end-of-life were allowed overnight visitors.

The overnight visitor must be one of the two daytime visitors previously designated by the patient.

Health officials were comfortable making this decision because of increasing vaccination rates and decline of community spread, according to Duke's Regional President Katie Galbraith.

"Our visitor policies continue to evolve as we look at the prevalence of COVID in the community, as we look at our vaccination rates, and also recognizing the significant burden placed on patients and their family members by having restricted visitations," she said.

UNC Medical Center, in Chapel Hill, has allowed one overnight visitor since September, according to their website. UNC Rex, off Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh, opened up its facility to overnight visitors on June 1.

"We really try to balance safety first, but also recognizing the importance that loved one’s play," Galbraith said. "And that’s really important for healing."

Visitors say that this news is life-changing, and lifts a burden off their shoulders.

Eric Adams came to Duke University Hopsital to celebrate his mom's birthday, with flowers and balloons in hand.

"My mom, 78, her birthday is today. Happy birthday mom!" he said.

His mother has been in the hospital for two months after complications in her recover from cancer. Now, on her birthday, he can finally stay the night.

Adams said that his mother was stunned in the best way possible when he broke the news to her.