Mid-Columbia Medical Center has closed patient visitation at its hospital and clinics as of Wednesday due to the Omicron surge.  According to an MCMC Facebook post, surgical and endoscopy patients will have a support caregiver to ensure safe discharges home.  Instructions for further care and who to call with questions will almost always occur over the telephone and discharged patients being escorted to a vehicle.  The policy is for people visiting patients at MCMC, not people who have appointments.  All appointments will continue as scheduled.  MCMC says it continues to encourage vaccination as the best defense against hospitalization and severe illness with COVID-19.