To protect mothers, their newborns and young patients from flu viruses, Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport and the group’s hospitals in Lincoln City, Corvallis, Albany and Lebanon will limit visitors in birthing centers and pediatric units beginning Monday, Dec. 30.
Samaritan has a team of doctors and nurses which monitors state data to determine when flu-like illness has reached a high level in Samaritan’s service area of Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties.
Visitor restrictions include the following:
- No visitors under the age of 12, unless they are healthy siblings of the infant/child in the hospital;
- No visitors who are ill;
- Limit of five visitors when the patient is in active labor;
All visitors need to be free of flu symptoms and carefully follow infection control guidelines, such as hand washing.
Children and pregnant women are among those in high-risk categories for complications from the flu.
The best defense against flu viruses, both at hospitals and in the community, is to avoid exposure through the following basic hygiene and infection control measures:
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper sleeve;
- Wash hands with soap and water frequently and regularly, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
- Consider getting a flu shot;
- If sick, stay home.
