Special to IFN

As respiratory illnesses continue to spread in North Carolina, Iredell Memorial Hospital is responding to the challenge of treating those with serious symptoms, while protecting other patients from contagious viruses.

Starting at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 30, children under the age of 14 are not permitted to visit patients at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Children under the age limit should only visit the hospital if they are seeking medical attention.

Siblings are permitted on The Birth Place only, with no age restrictions. Exceptions also may be made in special circumstances, such as visiting a family member who is in end-of-life care, but must be arranged with the patient’s care team.

Anyone with a cough, cold, fever or sore throat — no matter their age — is asked to refrain from visiting hospital patients as well.

Across the state, emergency department visits due to respiratory viruses and hospital admissions from the emergency department due to respiratory viruses were increasing in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday, according to the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services.

“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.”

LEARN MORE

To review the entire visitation policy for Iredell Memorial Hospital, visit iredellhealth.org/visiting.