Some Hospitals Remove Visitor Restriction

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By Daren Sukhram

Story Created: Nov 11, 2009 at 4:15 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 11, 2009 at 5:29 PM CST

WATERLOO - Citing a reduced prevalence of the H1N1 flu virus in youth, some local hospitals are lifting a restriction on visitors under the age of 18.

The move includes Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls and Mercy Oelwein.

The hospitals continue to ask that all visitors need to be in good health. If a staff member sees visitors coughing or sneezing, they may request the visitor to wear a mask, or request the visitor to leave the patient care area. Visitors should refrain from visiting if they have had flu-like symptoms during the past seven days.

Those symptoms include:
• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Occasional diarrhea or vomiting

Additionally, to help prevent the spread of illness, all visitors are required to wash hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand foam/gel upon entering and exiting a patient’s room. If you are visiting an ill patient, you may be required to wear a mask. Masks are provided for your protection as well as for those around you, and to help prevent the spread of flu-like illnesses.

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