In a bid to hinder the escalation of respiratory illnesses like Covid-19, flu, RSV, and norovirus, North Carolina’s primary hospital systems have implemented new visitor restriction measures. These healthcare systems, concentrated in the Charlotte and Raleigh regions, are considerably restricting the inflow of visitors below the age of 12 to 13 years to contain the potential virus transmission.
In light of these measures, Dr. Katie Passaretti, director of infection prevention for Advocate Health, stated ensuring the wellbeing of the community by implementing such essential preventive measures can mitigate the spread of respiratory diseases effectively, specifically during the festive season.
The hospitals are further insisting on visitors wearing masks in the wake of the increment in transmittable viruses. While Atrium Health mandates the use of masks within patient domains, including the emergency and maternity sections, Novant Health is encouraging but not enforcing the mask usage among visitors.
Raleigh-based hospitals initiated implementation of the visitor constraints on January 6. Both Duke Health and UNC Health have minimized potential visits from individuals under the age of 12 years and elderly individuals barring special circumstances. These preventive protocols were put into place by WakeMed from December 16, restricting entry of visitors under age 11 across domains catering to newborns and children.
Individuals exhibiting flu or cold symptoms are advised to refrain from hospital visits, alongside limitations imposed on the number of visitors per patient. Data from the NCDHHS indicates over 2,100 hospital emergency admissions due to respiratory illness diagnosis or visible symptoms between December 29 and January 4.
Further information is available at the hospitals’ official websites. It is essential in our collective fight against Covid-19 and other respiratory ailments to initiate such measures and ensure optimal protection for both healthcare providers and recipients.
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Source: https://enlacelatinonc.org/en/Hospitals-restrict-visitors-due-to-increase-in-respiratory-diseases/