Novant Health hospitals will be lifting visitor restrictions for children under the age of 13 starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 21. Dr. David Priest, senior vice president and chief safety and quality officer at Novant Health, attributes this decision to the decline in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses in their facilities and communities in recent weeks.
While masks are optional for visitors, individuals are encouraged to evaluate their personal risk when deciding whether to wear a mask. Patients have the option to request that their care team wear masks during treatment or clinic visits. Masks are required in the presence of respiratory virus symptoms and in treatment areas for high-risk patients, including those in isolation.
To prevent the risk of contracting respiratory illnesses, health care systems recommend frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face with hands, and receiving the flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, RSV vaccine, and recommended boosters. Novant Health will continue to monitor the evolving threats from respiratory viruses and may implement updated safety guidelines, including reinstating visitor restrictions if necessary.
However, anyone experiencing respiratory virus symptoms is advised not to visit patients in the hospital. These symptoms include fever, headaches, body aches, pain, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
