With flu cases on the rise, local hospitals to restrict visitors

Local hospitals will implement visitor restrictions to limit the spread of the flu and other respiratory infections.

The Greater Dayton Area Hospital announced today that adult, short-term acute care hospitals will implement restrictions beginning Friday, Dec. 29, in an effort to minimize the spread of respiratory infections to hospital patients, employees and community members.

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The Dayton region has seen a 192 percent increase of reported flu cases since Dec. 2, and a 61 percent increase in the past week. The policy is in place through March 2018. The restriction policy for area adult acute care hospitals includes:

— No visitation by anyone who is ill with any respiratory symptoms including coughing, fever, chills, headache, vomiting, sore throat, muscle aches or diarrhea

— No visitation by anyone under the age of 14

“The seasonal restrictions include not permitting children under the age 14 in the hospital for visitation purposes or anyone who exhibits flu or cold symptoms,” said Bryan Bucklew, president and CEO of GDAHA. “Children are particularly likely to carry viruses since they are heavily exposed in the school setting.”

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