WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Hospitals ban visitors under 17 due to flu concerns
Member Center:
By Erica Shaffer - bio | email
Posted by Dave Dykema - email
TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Beginning Thursday area hospitals are asking visitors under 17 to stay home.
New temporary signs outlining the details now greet Promedica visitors at the front desk. The restrictions also include people with flu symptoms.
Promedica wasn't the only hospital with the new restrictions. Mercy Medical and the University of Toledo Medical Center also decided to begin identical restricted access Thursday.
The hospital groups say it was a move to prevent the spread of the flu to the most vulnerable populations.
Lucas Co. Deputy Health Commissioner Larry Vasko says his office left it up to the hospitals to decide, but he was pleased with the restrictions they put in place.
"They know it is very transmissible and they are saying let's not make the people in our hospital who are here for other reasons... let's not get them with H1N1. So it is a good decision," says Vasko.
Some Promedica patients and visitors agree with the restrictions.
"I know my niece came down with it and it just might be a good idea to keep it from spreading," says Roberta Smith.
Others, like Victoria Reams, who just had a baby, say restricting children from seeing a new baby isn't right.
"If the baby is going to be around those kids I think it will be important for them to start bonding with them so they will be able to get to know each other," says Reams.
Promedica says there will be exceptions, such as visitation for the terminally ill.
"If there really is an exceptional situation that we feel we should have a younger person visit," says Karen Christie, Promedica Infection, Protection and Control Specialist, "we would decide that on a case by case basis."
The new restrictions will last at least until the end of the flu season.
Copyright 2009 WTOL. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. Notify us of any inappropriate comments by clicking the “Mark as Offensive” link. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
Monday -- Inside Sex Addiction Rehab: Addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky will talk about why sex addiction is the most hidden, shameful and most misunderstood addiction in the U.S.
