UCHealth has observed a surge in respiratory diseases throughout Colorado as the season for holiday gatherings and travel is upon us. ‘We’ve entered the respiratory virus season, which encompasses everything from the benign common cold to more grave conditions,’ says Dr. Michelle Barron, the Senior Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at UCHealth.
To provide a shield for patients, visitors, and employees, UCHealth is putting in place seasonal visitor restrictions across its hospitals and clinics. The newly effective seasonal visitor policy includes the following guidelines: A majority of patients can receive multiple visitors daily but must limit to a maximum of 2 visitors or support persons concurrently; visiting hours fall between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Children younger than 12 years are not allowed to visit high-risk areas, including all intensive care units, transplant settings, oncology inpatient wards, and pediatric sections, NICUs and specialist care nurseries included. This rule extends to certain units treating ICU and oncology patients. Visitors portraying symptoms of respiratory sickness, such as coughs, are required to don a mask inside the premises or encouraged to delay their visit until they recover.
Dr. Barron emphasizes the urgent need for Colorado residents to bolster their own protection and that of others by getting vaccinated. Since it typically takes about a fortnight post-vaccination for flu shots and other vaccines to reach optimal efficiency, the call for citizens to get their flu and COVID-19 jabs immediately (assuming they haven’t done so yet) gets louder. Ensuring this will provide full protection as holiday gatherings kick off towards the end of the month. Dr. Barron further advises those feeling under the weather to remain at home.