Temporary Visitor Restrictions to Start Wednesday

Because the number of influenza cases has rapidly increased throughout the region, Wake Forest Baptist Health will implement temporary visitor restrictions starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 8.

To help control the spread of the virus and to protect the health of our patients, their loved ones and our medical staff, these restrictions will remain in effect until the number of flu cases decreases significantly.

The restrictions apply to all Wake Forest Baptist inpatient locations:

• Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
• Wake Forest Baptist Health – Davie Medical Center
• Wake Forest Baptist Health – High Point Medical Center
• Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center
• Wake Forest Baptist Health – Wilkes Medical Center

Effective Wednesday morning, children age 12 and under may not visit inpatients. Exceptions for extenuating family circumstances may be allowed, but parents or guardians must first check with the patient’s nurse.

Healthy adult visitors and healthy family members age 13 and older are welcome to visit patients.

“Vaccination is the best protection against the flu, so we want people to know that it is still not too late to receive the influenza vaccine if they have not already done so,” said Larry Givner, M.D., professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Wake Forest Baptist Health. “Throughout the year, we always remind visitors and family members – regardless of their age – that in order to visit patients, they should be healthy and free from fever, cough, colds or stomach virus symptoms.”

Wake Forest Baptist continues to monitor the influenza rates daily and will take appropriate steps to further restrict visitors, if needed, or lift the restrictions when the number of flu cases decreases.

The decision to enact temporary visitor restrictions is a collaborative effort among Wake Forest Baptist Health and six other regional health systems: Atrium Health, Blue Ridge Health, CaroMont Health, Cone Health, Novant Health and Randolph Health. These health systems are enacting visitor restrictions at the same time because they share the same geographic area and have similar rates of influenza in the community.