Visitor restrictions at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital began Thursday, with flu and influenza-like illness increasing throughout the region and the state.
Visitor restrictions were put into place today, after Owensboro Health Regional Hospital’s lab performed more than 200 rapid flu tests in a seven-day period while statewide flu activity is categorized at the “widespread” level.
Laura Gillim, RN, an infection prevention specialist at OHRH, said it’s important to exercise caution.
“We are committed to protecting our patients and visitors and visitor restrictions minimize our patients’ exposure to outside contaminants,” Gillim said. “Restrictions also reduce our visitors’ risk of being exposed to illness while visiting the hospital.”
Visitor restrictions at either Owensboro Health hospital include the following:
Visitors should be kept to a minimum and only include persons essential for the patient’s care and emotional well-being.
Children under age 18 should not visit patients.
Anyone with a cold, respiratory illness or flu symptoms should refrain from visiting.
These symptoms include one or more of the following: Fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose and/or sneezing, muscle/body aches, headaches and fatigue.
