Special to Iredell Free News

As the flu, COVID-19 and RSV 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.

Effective Thursday, December 21, children ages 13 and younger 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, but must wear a mask if they are 13 and younger. Exceptions 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.

“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.”

Even though the flu season is well underway, it’s still not too late to get vaccinated.

“For whatever reason, too many people choose not to get the flu shot,” said Gill. “They may be afraid it may make them sick or heard of someone who had a bad experience. Yet the evidence shows that the flu shot is the best tool we have to slow and prevent the spread of the virus.”

About Iredell Health System

Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network, and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest and only non-profit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare facility has 247 beds, more than 1,6500 employees; and has 260 physicians representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.