Children 18 and Younger Will be Permitted to Visit Patients
1/22/10
Cleveland Clinic is lifting visitation restrictions at all hospitals Monday, Jan. 25, which were implemented to prevent the spread of seasonal and H1N1 flu and allowing children 18 and younger to visit patients at its hospitals.
“The restrictions are being lifted because the H1N1 vaccine is now widely available and many people have taken advantage of free vaccination clinics at Cleveland Clinic and throughout Northeast Ohio,” said Thomas Tallman, M.D., Chairman, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Medicine, Cleveland Clinic. “Even though the restrictions are being lifted, it is still advisable to refrain from visiting patients if you are sick. If there is another wave of flu or H1N1 outbreaks, we may need to reinstate the visitation restrictions.”
Dr. Tallman said hospital officials have seen a decrease in flu and H1N1-related illness and a decline in the volume of employee absences related to the flu. “This is the trend throughout the U.S. and elsewhere,” he said.
The visitation restriction is being lifted at the following Cleveland Clinic facilities:
- Ashtabula County Medical Center
- Cleveland Clinic (Main Campus)
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation
- Euclid Hospital
- Fairview Hospital
- Hillcrest Hospital
- Huron Hospital
- Lakewood Hospital
- Lutheran Hospital
- Marymount Hospital
- Medina Hospital
- South Pointe Hospital
In addition to vaccination, there are some simple things everyone can do to prevent the spread of flu including covering your cough or sneeze, staying home from work or school if you are sick and washing hands frequently.
H1N1 vaccines are still available, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/flu for locations and more information.
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