Comment on Northwestern Medicine hospitals restricting visitors during flu season

DeKALB – Two area hospitals have started putting restrictions on patient visitors in order to cut down exposure to the flu, according to a Northwestern Medicine news release. Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee and Northwestern Medicine Valley West hospitals have set visitor guidelines, which include: visitors with flu-like symptoms refraining from seeing a patient in the hospital or accompanying a patient to a clinic visit, visitors younger than 18 years old will not be permitted to visit patients in the hospital, with an exception for parents younger than 18 who have children in the hospital, and only two visitors per patient will be allowed at one time The hospitals are also reminding visitors to be cautious when visiting patients. Visitors should clean their hands before and after a visit, they should cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, throw out used tissues at the nearest garbage can and wash their hands with soap that is not antimicrobial or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Visitors also should wear a mask if the patient has a cough or a sneeze.