CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several regional hospitals have made the decision to restrict access to some visitors in response to the growing number of flu cases across the Charlotte area and the state.
The hospitals will be restricting access to all visitors under the age of 12 at in-patient hospitals. Visitors who are 13 years old and over, but are experiencing flu-like symptoms, are also encouraged not to visit patients being treated at restricted hospitals.
Officials said this was a joint decision among the regional hospitals including Atrium Health, Blue Ridge Health, CaroMont Health, Cone Health, Randolph Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health. They said it is intended to help better control the spread of the flu.
Doctors said they have seen an eight to 10 percent increase in emergency room patients with flu-like symptoms.
[ ALSO READ: NC, SC hit hard by flu season on track to be more severe than last year ]
“The flu virus can be extremely dangerous to people who have compromised immune systems, cancer, kidney disease and other chronic conditions,” Dr. Eric Eskioglu, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Novant Health said.
__________
NOVANT HEALTH HOSPITALS:
- Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
- Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital
- Novant Health Clemmons Medical Center
- Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center
- Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital
- Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center
- Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center
- Novant Health Matthews Medical Center
- Novant Health Medical Park Hospital
- Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center
- Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
- Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
- Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center
- Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center
- Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center
- Novant Health UVA Health System Culpeper Medical Center
ATRIUM HEALTH HOSPITALS:
- Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center
- Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital
- Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute
- Atrium Health Cabarrus
- Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center
- Atrium Health Pineville
- Atrium Health Union
- Atrium Health University City
- Atrium Health Lincoln
- Atrium Health Cleveland
- Atrium Health Kings Mountain
- Atrium Health Anson
- Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge
- Atrium Health Stanly
- Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte
- Atrium Health Behavioral Health Davidson
- Carolinas Rehabilitation-Charlotte
- Carolinas Rehabilitation-NorthEast
- Carolinas Rehabilitation-Mt. Holly
- Atrium Health Pineville Rehabilitation Hospital
WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HOSPITALS:
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
- Wake Forest Baptist Health – Davie Medical Center
- Wake Forest Baptist Health – High Point Medical Center
- Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center
- Wake Forest Baptist Health – Wilkes Medical Center
__________
Iredell Memorial Hospital announced that it will be restricting visitors under the age of 18 from the facility starting Jan. 10. Officials said anyone under 18 should only visit the hospital if they are receiving treatment.
“Restrictions like this are necessary to help protect our patients as well as our staff and visitors,” said Pam Gill, Director of Infection Prevention for Iredell Health System. “We also encourage all visitors to use the masks, hand sanitizer and tissues available at public entrances of Iredell Memorial.”
Symptoms of the flu include fever, headaches, body aches, pain, cough or sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Atrium Health doctors said in order to reduce your risk of getting the flu, you should frequently wash your hands with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, covering your cough or sneeze and getting a flu shot.
"Vaccination is the best protection against the flu, so we want people to know that it is still not too late to receive the influenza vaccine if they have not already done so,” Larry Givner, M.D., professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Wake Forest Baptist Health, said.
[ ALSO READ: Health officials report NC's first flu-related death of season ]
Children may be allowed to visit patients at the hospital under special circumstances, but parents will need to make arrangements with the hospital in advance.
So far, 10 people have died in North Carolina because of flu-related problems. In South Carolina, 15 people have died.
The restrictions will go into effect on Wednesday at 7 a.m. and will be in place until further notice.
Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.
This browser does not support the video element.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- NEW RHULER: Carolina Panthers hire Baylor’s Matt Rhule as head coach, reports say
- Armed robbery suspect shot, killed after leading deputies on multi-county chase
- Student body president removed after ‘Pajama Day’ deemed a dress code violation
- FORECAST: Schools closed as winter weather moves through mountains
- HS principal charged with DWI after colliding with car, pedestrian, building in Hickory