Two hospital systems in the Upstate have announced new visitor restrictions due to increased levels of influenza and respiratory illnesses.
Children under the age of 16 will be restricted at Bon Secours St. Francis’s Eastside and Downtown hospital locations to ensure the safety of patients, staff and visitors. This change will go into effect beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Prisma Health will also restrict visitors under the age of 16 from visiting its hospitalized patients starting Jan. 15. Jacie Volkman, executive director of Prisma’s infection prevention department, said exceptions may be made to the visitation restriction by the attending physician and local leadership.
“By taking this proactive best-practice step, we can ensure our hospitals remain safe places for our patients to receive high-quality care,” Volkman said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared that seasonal influenza activity is elevated across most of the county. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, respiratory illnesses have specifically been increasing across South Carolina.
Both health care systems recommend visitors wear masks when visiting patients. Community members are asked not to visit patients if they currently have symptoms or tested positive for a respiratory illness.
By the Numbers
So far this season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that across the country there has been
- 9.1 million flu illnesses
- 110,000 hospitalizations
- 4,700 deaths from the flu
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
