Lifespan Hospitals Lift Visitor Restrictions
(posted December 17, 2009)
Effective immediately, Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Miriam Hospital and Newport Hospital are lifting visitor restrictions on children under 18. These restrictions were put into place to help prevent the spread of the 2009 H1N1 virus at the hospitals, which are all part of the Lifespan health system. Anyone who is exhibiting influenza-like illness (fever and cough or fever and sore throat) is still asked to refrain from visiting until they are feeling better.
“We are now able to lift the restrictions on children because the numbers of 2009 H1N1 cases continue to decline and the state’s program to vaccinate children has been successful,” said Mary Cooper, MD, JD, Lifespan senior vice president and chief quality officer. “The visitor restrictions helped to protect patients and staff during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic outbreak. We thank our patients and their families for their cooperation and understanding.”
The hospitals may reinstate the restrictions, should flu cases spike again in Rhode Islan