Triangle hospitals enact visitor restrictions, as respiratory illnesses spike
More Triangle hospitals will begin restricting visitors on Monday, Jan. 6, to reduce the chances of spreading respiratory illnesses among patients and staff.
Both Duke Health and UNC Health will begin limiting visitors to those 12 and older, except under special circumstances. WakeMed barred visitors 11 and younger in areas where babies and children receive care starting Dec. 16.
The number of people visiting a patient will also be limited in some cases. People with cold and flu symptoms are asked not to visit hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. Masks are optional but encouraged.
Restrictions on visitation at hospitals and clinics are common during the winter months, when respiratory illnesses such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19 spread.
State public health officials report an increase in respiratory sickness in late December. The prevalence of flu-like illnesses among emergency department patients rose 50% in the week ending Dec. 28, according to state Department of Health and Human Services. During that week, 4.8% of people visiting emergency departments had some flu-like illness, up from 3.2% the week before.
Five people statewide died of complications of the flu that week, bringing the seasonal total to 12.
Restrictions vary slightly from one health system to another, and hospital visitors are encouraged to check before arriving.
Duke Health, which includes hospitals in Durham and Raleigh, will allow no more than two visitors to a patient at a time. Overnight visitors must be at least 18 years old unless they are the parent or caregiver of a pediatric patient.
UNC Health, which includes both Rex hospitals in Wake County, does not limit the number of visitors during the day, but only one will be permitted in most inpatient areas between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. For more information, go to www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/patients-visitors/visitor-policy/.
