Dear Community Members:

Each day brings new challenges in our efforts to curb COVID-19 and its impact on our community. We understand and sympathize with the anxiety and stress you and your families are experiencing, because we, here at New London Hospital (NLH), are members of this community. The best way we can support you is to provide the care you need while maintaining the safety to do so.

Effective today, March 18, as part of a Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and nationwide effort to address the shortage of supplies for testing and treatment, NLH is limiting COVID-19 testing to our inpatients and to those who have direct contact with patients, which includes physicians, nurses, and first responders. This is a necessary measure beyond the shortage of supplies, but also ensures we are providing safe and quality care. This action further emphasizes the need for community members to strictly adhere to the isolation protocols currently in place in New Hampshire.

Until further notice, the hospital is closed to visitors with the exception of those visiting patients receiving end-of-life care. Parents and caregivers accompanying a child or adult dependent will be limited to one adult per appointment or Emergency Department visit. Enhanced action is in place to ensure entrance routes, waiting areas, and exam rooms are clean and separated from our COVID-19 testing areas.

It is a new reality for the hospital and our Newport Health Center, and we are all challenged with the daily flow of information and direction. Our emergency management team is working around-the-clock to ensure our staff and providers can meet your needs. I realize as the days turn into weeks, the frustrations will mount, but what makes the Lake Sunapee Region so special is the support you show each other.

We will continue to provide updates on our website and encourage you to adhere to the social-distancing measures that are in place.