3 months ago
Doctors and nurses in Central Georgia say some people need to follow the rules when it comes to hospital visits.
They're reminding people that no one under the age of 17 is allowed on the campus of Houston Healthcare in Perry and Warner Robins, the Coliseum Hospitals, and the Medical Center of Central Georgia. It's a preventative measure those hospitals started in early November. It will last until flu season ends, for which there is no specific date.
It's meant to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.
Chief Nursing Officer at Houston Healthcare Mindy Hartley says signs outside the hospital and at the entrances clearly inform visitors about the policy, but some people aren't paying attention or want to argue about the rules.
Some staff have had to call security to handle unruly visitors.
Hartley says the policy is meant to protect patients and children, who she says are most likely to catch the virus.
She said, "You often spread virus through touching objects. So, it could be that when they come in, if that child touches the door handle where someone else has just entered, they could acquire that virus, just with that one move."
Hartley says the hospitals will make exceptions to rules if a child needs to visit a terminally ill relative, is the primary caregiver for a patient or is a parent.
She says the rule is particularly important during the holiday season when people will be gathering in close proximity and visiting sick relatives.
Hartley said, "You think about the close proximity of individuals. You hink about the closed quarters. You are much more susceptible to acquiring the virus.
According to the North Central Health District, three people in the 13 county area have died of the H1N1 virus.
As of last week, 661 people in Georgia have been hospitalized with H1N1. 37 people have died according to the Georgia Division of Public Health.
