INDIANAPOLIS -- To help prevent the spread of the flu virus and to keep patients and staff safe as the season ramps up, several central Indiana hospitals are posing visitor restrictions.
With the flu season expected to reach an early peak in the state, Indiana has already been upgraded by the Center for Disease Control to widespread flu activity along with 35 other states.
As of December 29, there were already 9 flu related deaths this season and 13 long-term care facilities have reported flu outbreaks.
Because of its contagious nature, multiple hospitals have placed temporary restrictions allowing only "essential" adults over 18 years of age to visit patients. Those restrictions also mean that anyone with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches will not be allowed.
READ | 36 states - including Indiana - showing widespread flu outbreaks
The temporary restrictions mean that only "essential" adults over 18 years of age will be allowed to visit patients and anyone with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches will not be allowed. Any patient at IU Health that is experiencing flu-like symptoms will also be asked to wear a surgical or isolation mask so as to prevent further in-hospital spread of the virus.
READ | Indiana records first flu death of 2017-18 season
The following hospitals in central Indiana currently have restrictions in place:
- IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
- IU Health Bedford Hospital
- IU Health Blackford Hospital
- IU Health Bloomington Hospital
- IU Health Methodist Hospital
- IU Health Morgan
- IU Health North Hospital
- IU Health Paoli Hospital
- IU Health Saxony Hospital
- IU Health Tipton Hospital
- IU Health University Hospital
- IU Health West Hospital
- Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health
- Riverview Health
- Franciscan Health
- All major health systems in Marion County
READ | Have the flu? Here's how to recover
You can check out the restrictions from each hospital group below.say yo
IU Health restrictions:
- Only essential adults (18 or older) will be allowed to visit patients.
- Visitors who have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills or muscle aches, will not be allowed to visit patients.
- Patients with flu-like symptoms will be asked to wear a surgical or isolation mask.
Riverview Health restrictions:
- No visitors with influenza-like illness, fever or a cough.
- No visitors under the age of 16, unless special arrangements are made.
- No visitors except immediate family, partner or significant other.
Franciscan Health restrictions:
- Only immediate family as identified by the patient or patient’s designated representative will be allowed to visit.
- No visitors under 18 years of age unless they are seeking medical care or are the parents of pediatric patients. (Note: An exception is made for siblings visiting in postpartum. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and should be in good health without signs of respiratory infection.)
- No visitors who have symptoms suggestive of influenza will be allowed
Marion County heath care restrictions:
- No visitors with symptoms of influenza.
- No visitors under the age of 18.
- Visitors limited to immediate family as identified by the patient.
READ | Facts about the flu to keep your family safe this season
We will update this list with more hospital information as it becomes available.
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