Prisma Health, a healthcare system serving the Midlands region of South Carolina, is instigating restrictions on patient visitation following a surge in the number of cases of flu and other respiratory illnesses reported in the state. This infection prevention strategy, set to commence on January 15, will notably include a ban on children under the age of 16 visiting hospitalized patients. While certain exceptions might be permitted, subject to the discretion of the attending physician and local leadership, the measure is generally seen as a necessary step towards creating a safer environment for patients seeking quality healthcare services.
These restrictions are being put in place across various facilities operated by Prisma Health, including Prisma Health Richland, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, and Prisma Health Baptist Hospitals in Columbia. As an additional measure to mitigate potential spread of respiratory illnesses, hospital officials are urging those with a fever, who have tested positive, or suspect they may have a respiratory illness, to avoid visiting patients. Meanwhile, other healthcare providers in the region such as MUSC Providence and Lexington Medical Center, have yet to implement any visitation restrictions, despite also observing an increase in cases.
Regarding the broader context, ongoing flu season data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports at least 5.3 million flu illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths throughout the United States — numbers which include 17 child fatalities. Meanwhile, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH), the state has seen three flu-related deaths reported. The organization’s latest Respiratory Disease Watch, conducted between December 29, 2024, and January 4, 2025, recorded 2,000 cases of flu, 500 cases of COVID-19, and around 500 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The SCDPH is addressing the COVID-19 spread by offering free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits at local public health departments. Furthermore, to limit the spread of illnesses during the cold-and-flu season, health officials recommend an annual flu vaccination for everyone aged six months and older along with specific emphasis on those most vulnerable, such as young children, pregnant women, the eldery and people with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung diseases.