News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Regional instituting visitation restrictions Wednesday due to an increase in COVID and flu cases.
The restrictions will prevent any visitors under the age of 16 and anyone exhibiting signs of illness from visiting patients. CRMC Infection Prevention Manager Stephanie Etter said the restrictions is to stop the spread of the viruses.
“What we want to try to avoid is making patients sick when they are here for other reasons,” Etter said. “A lot of patients are here of course for non-respiratory illnesses so the primary reason is to protect our staff and keeping them well and also our patients.”
Etter said masks are not mandatory but the hospital will be providing masks at the front entrances for those who are allowed to visit. Etter said the restrictions will be enforced until further notice.
“We don’t know at this time how long we will have the restrictions in place,” Etter said. “We are monitoring the number of respiratory illnesses and we will decide based on how that looks in the coming two to three weeks.”
Etter said there will be exceptions on a case-by-case basis and those who have family members in the Birthing Center.
Etter said this is not the first time the hospital has had a visitation restriction for children under the age of 16.
“Children do have the ability to carry a more viral load in their bodies,” Etter said. “So they spread viruses a little easier than adults do, so that is just one way that we try to decrease risks in the height of the season.”
Etter said the hospital will not check visitors who come to the hospital and will trust that people use their best judgment. Etter said CRMC has placed signs at the front entrances displaying the restrictions.
