The National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street in Dublin has finally eased restrictions on visitors such as children and grandparents after three years of Covid-19 measures.
Guidelines issued this month say partners and support persons can visit their loved ones unrestricted between the hours of 8am and 9pm Monday to Sunday, reports Newstalk. According to the National Maternity Hospital's website, visiting guidelines remain unchanged for nominated support partners who can visit from Monday to Sunday, 8am - 9pm.
Now children and grandparents can also visit the hospital to see loved ones between 6pm and 8pm. Although visitors are advised that only two people are allowed at a bedside at any time.
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More recently, visitors to maternity inpatients were restricted to one "designated support partner". During the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, strict measures were put in place which saw partners visitors restricted, while children also couldn't see their new baby brothers and sisters in hospital.
The National Maternity Hospital said: "Following a review of our visitor guidelines The National Maternity Hospital is delighted to announce that children and grandparents of maternity patients are now welcome to visit the hospital between 6pm and 8pm daily.
"Two visitors are allowed per patient at any one time. We understand how difficult Covid restrictions have been over the last number of years and are pleased that we are now able to support our patients who wish to have grandparents and children visit them during this important time in their lives."
It comes days after the World Health Organisation said that it no longer considers Covid-19 a global health emergency. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that does not mean Covid-19 is over as a global health threat, and that thousands of people are still fighting for their lives in intensive care units.
Covid-19 was first declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 - the highest level of alarm under international law. Dr Tedros has also urged countries to avoid letting their guard down when it comes to Covid-19, as variants are still circulating.
He said: "This virus is here to stay. It is still killing, and it is still changing.
"The risk remains of new variants emerging that cause new surges in cases and deaths."
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