Northwell Health has announced that four obstetrical units that temporarily relocated to make room to care for COVID-19 patients are now back to operating as they were prior to the pandemic.
At the height of COVID-19, mothers delivering at Huntington Hospital, Southside Hospital, Katy Women's Hospitals at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center were transferred to postpartum units outside the hospitals to ensure the safety of the moms and babies, as well as to free up beds for COVID-19 patients.
Those at LIJ were taken to Cohen Children's Medical Center, and NSUH patients went to the Schwartz Ambulatory Surgery Center. At both Huntington and Southside hospitals, mothers were taken to a Northwell ambulatory facility in Bay Shore.
Officials say going forward, women who deliver at each of these hospitals will remain at these facilities for the duration of their postpartum care.
Obstetrical visitation will remain restricted as it has throughout the pandemic, with spouses or significant others allowed to be present for labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period.
According to officials, all the postpartum rooms have undergone terminal cleaning and disinfection to eliminate the risk of infection.