PEORIA AND TAZEWELL COUNTIES, Ill. – There are once again visitor restrictions in place at local hospitals because of an increase in cases of various illnesses including COVID-19.
That’s according to the Peoria City/County and Tazewell County Health Departments, who says both OSF HealthCare and Carle Health Greater Peoria are urging the public to limit their visits to the hospitals, in Peoria and Tazewell Counties, in order to protect patients and employees from spreading the flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Effective now, officials say visitors should only be 18 years of age or older, patients should have no more than two people visiting them, and don’t visit patients if they haven’t felt well or had flu-like symptoms in the prior seven days.
They say those who do visit must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
“While the voluntary request is restrictive in nature, the health care community firmly believes the request is in the best interest of patient health and safety,” said a statement
REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING PEORIA-AREA HOSPITALS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
- Visitors should be at least 18 years of age and older. This will minimize patient exposure to children, who are known to be high risk for transmission of viral infections and will also help protect children from contracting an illness while visiting the hospital.
- Limit of 2 visitors per patient.
- Individuals who are not feeling well or have had flu-like symptoms in the past seven days should not visit hospitalized patients. Flu-like symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, cough, and/or sore throat.
- When entering and leaving a patient’s room, everyone should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand foam/gel. Washing helps limit the spread of disease.
- People should cough or sneeze into their arm, shoulder, or tissue (not hands) to reduce the spread of germs that can be passed from hands touching surfaces or people.
(Source: Peoria City/County and Tazewell County Health Departments)
