Tift Regional Health System implements visitation restrictions during flu season
People under age 18 are asked not to come to Tift Regional Health System hospitals and nursing home to visit patients
File Photo
From Staff Reports
TIFTON — While Tift Regional Health System urges residents to get a flu shot to help stay healthy during flu season, it is also implementing a visitor restriction policy requesting people under age 18 not to come to the system’s two hospitals and nursing home to visit patients.
“We need the community’s help in minimizing the spread of the flu,” Mary Key, director of infection prevention at Tift Regional, said. “Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, visits to the doctor and absent days at work and school due to the flu. It can also prevent flu-related hospitalizations.
“The visitor restrictions at Tift Regional Medical Center, Cook Medical Center and Cook Senior Living Center are necessary to help protect our patients and healthcare providers. We are also requesting that people over age 18 who are sick not come to the hospital or nursing home as well.”
Key said the more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain long-term health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.
In addition to a flu shot, Key said there are other ways to help limit the spread of flu. Some basic rules-of-thumb include:
— Avoid close contact. Stay away from those who are sick, and those who are sick should isolate themselves;
— Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and use a tissue;
— Washing hands often is always a good idea. Anyone who is or has been sick should wash their hands even more frequently;
— Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth;
— Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
“We appreciate the community’s help and cooperation in reducing the spread of flu,” Key said.
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