As of December 1st, and with the entry into force of the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health, the Hospital da Luz Network has new rules for visits and companions in hospital and maternity hospitals throughout the Hospital da Luz Network: it becomes mandatory that visits to inpatients and caregivers during labor or inpatients have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test, regardless of whether they have a vaccination certificate. Thus, visitors (when accessing any of these services) and accompanying persons (at the time of admission) must present one of the following documents: COVID Green Certificate (paper or electronic) showing a negative RT-PCR test result in the previous 72 hours; Negative result of a rapid “professional” antigen test carried out within the previous 48 hours, duly validated by the body responsible for its performance; Or negative rapid antigen self-test result in the previous 24 hours, as shown in a document issued by a healthcare professional. The latter being the document you are going to present, it must contain: Citizen identification; National Health Service user number or type and number of identification document; Date and time of the self-test; Identification of the trademark, manufacturer and batch of the self-test; Self-test result; Identification of the person responsible for supervision and certification; Profession; Registration number in the Professional Order or professional card number; Registration number of the entity with the Regulatory Authority for Health or INFARMED, if applicable. In the case of assistance in the delivery room, a rapid antigen test must be performed on the companion, regardless of the vaccination status, which will allow their visit in the following days. There is still no need for any patient accompanying person for outpatient consultations and examinations, however, one companion per patient is recommended. We appeal to everyone to better comply with these new rules, in the name of the health of our patients and our professionals.
