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COVID-19 and Your Child

COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions

The safety of our patients, families and team is our #1 priority. In order to keep our patients, families and team safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have updated our visitor guidelines.

Arkansas Children's Hospital:

  • Inpatient and Surgery/Bedside: Two caregivers per patient at one time at the inpatient and OR surgery/bedside. Up to four caregivers, all 18 years or older, may rotate in the inpatient setting, but only two may be in the hospital at one time.
  • Outpatient Clinics (including ACH and all clinic locations): Two caregivers per patient is allowed.
  • Emergency Department: One caregiver per patient is allowed in the waiting room and two caregivers are allowed in the exam room.
  • No children under the age of 18 other than the patient are allowed.
  • Although the statewide mask mandate is no longer in effect, all visitors to any Arkansas Children’s facility are required to wear masks.

Arkansas Children's Northwest

  • Two caregivers per patient in all clinical areas of the hospital and two caregivers are allowed to stay overnight in Inpatient areas.
  • Emergency Department: One caregiver per patient is allowed in the waiting room and two caregivers are allowed in the exam room.
  • No children under the age of 18 other than the patient are allowed.
  • Although the statewide mask mandate is no longer in effect, all visitors to any Arkansas Children’s facility are required to wear masks.
View all Visitor Guidelines and Restrictions

Resources for Patients and Families

Activities for Kids

Although the statewide mask mandate is no longer in effect, all visitors to any Arkansas Children’s facility are required to wear masks

We are taking additional steps to protect children and their families from potential exposure. We are requiring that all patients and their accompanying parents or guardian wear masks in our facilities. Upon entry, a hospital-issued mask will be provided and must be worn at all times. If your child is under 2 years old, or cannot put on or remove a mask without help, they should not wear a mask.

COVID-19 Testing Information at Arkansas Children's

Arkansas Children’s has partnered with Natural State Labs (NSL) to provide drive-through testing services. NSL provides COVID-19 testing across the state. Through this partnership, we have expanded testing capabilities at the ACH (Little Rock) campus. Anyone, regardless of age, can get tested for COVID-19. Community providers no longer need to enter an order for their patients’ tests unless the test is for surgery clearance. All tests provided at Arkansas Children’s Hospital by NSL are PCR tests.

Test Results

Test results should be available to patients within 24–48 hours.

COVID-19 Testing Guidelines at Arkansas Children's

  • Please note: Arkansas Children's is following the Arkansas Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for testing for COVID-19. We are ONLY testing those children who meet the qualifying criteria. 
  • Most fever, cough, and cold symptoms can be managed at home with over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Motrin and oral hydration fluids like Pedialyte. However, we encourage you to bring your child to the Emergency Department if:
    • They are having difficulty breathing
    • They are dehydrated (crying without tears, infrequent urination)
    • They are overly drowsy or hard to wake
  • Fever (a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees) in babies less than 3 months old should prompt you to call your primary care physician or bring your child to the Emergency Department.
  • UAMS HealthNow is also offering a free online tool available 24 hours a day at UAMSHealth.com/healthnow. UAMS HealthNow is intended for adults (at least 18 years old). 

ACH Pre-Op COVID-19 Testing Route

Patients needing their COVID-19 test before surgery will enter the the COVID-19 ACH (Little Rock) testing site from a different route.

  • From W. 12th Street, turn south onto Summit Street and enter the testing site.
  • Once inside the parking lot, patients will inform the technician that they need a COVID-19 test for a procedure.
  • Patients will then be routed to a separate line to expedite testing.

Have questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine?

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