TAMPA, Fla. — AdventHealth will begin restricting hospital patients to one visitor per day in the Tampa Bay region, beginning Jan. 17.
The health care system's West Florida Division reiterated this rule is currently only being put in place at six Bay area facilities.
The decision comes amid word that a total of 380 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across 11 AdventHealth hospitals. Those facilities are located in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Marion, Highlands and Hardee counties.
"We remain prepared for the continued increase in patients," AdventHealth wrote in an email. "The peak in the West Florida Division was approximately 650 COVID-19 patients during the Delta surge."
The nonprofit said the visitation restrictions are meant to help limit the spread of the virus and would be instituted at the following sites:
- AdventHealth Carrollwood
- AdventHealth Dade City
- AdventHealth North Pinellas
- AdventHealth Tampa
- AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
- AdventHealth Zephyrhills
Visitors must wear masks, even if they are vaccinated. Still, doctors say getting vaccinated remains the best defense against the omicron variant, despite breakthrough cases. AdventHealth is encouraging anyone eligible for a COVID booster shot to get one.