News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Regional Medical Center has implemented visitation restrictions due to surging flu and COVID-19 numbers.
Infection Prevention Manager Stephanie Etter said COVID-19 hospitalizations have spiked some 60 percent in the last two weeks. Etter said starting Thursday, people under 16-years-old, and anyone showing signs of illness will not be permitted to visit the hospital.
“If they do visit and they’re not sick and feel more comfortable, we do have masks available,” Etter said. “But, if we could get them to partner with us and prevent spread within the hospital and keep our staff and patients from getting sick, that is our goal.”
Visitors under 16 with special circumstances like a newborn sibling in the Birthing Center will still be allowed to visit. Etter said the increase was expected after people gathered for the holidays. She said as we get further from Christmas, she hopes to see the numbers drop and restrictions end.
“Each year, we look at what we’re seeing in terms of respiratory illness, which includes flu, now Covid, RSV, other respiratory illnesses, and we know that children tend to hold more viruses in their body,” Etter said. “Restricting children is one way that we can limit the visitors inside the hospital to try to decrease the risk to our patients and our staff.”
She said Tennessee currently ranks among the most infected states for flu cases. She said there is concern about many people in the hospital with preexisting health issues and the dangers they face from heavy visitation. She said lung disease, heart disease, and asthma are among the ailments most intensely complicated by sick visitors.
Fever, cough, congestion, and upset stomach are among the symptoms that will result in restriction.
