BELOIT, Wis. — Beloit Memorial Hospital joined other area hospitals today and began restricting children and teenagers from visits to hospital patients to help prevent the transmission of H1N1 and seasonal flu to patients and their families.
“Many area hospitals have taken this step due to the number of flu cases in the schools and community,” hospital Vice President Doris Mulder said. “Our temporary policy will restrict the age of visitors to only those 18 years and older throughout this high flu season.”
The policy applies to visitors, and not children and teens coming to the hospital for services.
“We will have signage up at the entrance to the hospital, and ask parents and guardians to abide by this new policy,” Mulder said. “Parents with children and teenagers are asked to keep their children at home while visiting. If there is a family member in critical condition, we will certainly use judgment in seeing that the child is able to visit. This new restriction is for the health of our patients and visitors to control the spread of this prevalent flu.”
