Flu Outbreak Causes a Maine Hospital to Limit Visitations

According to News Center Maine, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor has chosen to change their visitation policy due to the flu outbreak.

Because Maine has had more than 2,200 positive cases of influenza already this season, the hospital is tightening up visitations in an effort to limit the spread, especially among patients who are already vulnerable to infection of all kinds.

Here are the temporary changes that you can find on the hospital's Visitor Page:

• All visitors will be screened for flu-like symptoms at the Main Entrance.
• Visitors are limited to 2 people per patient at a time anywhere in the hospital.
• Visitors must be at least 12 years old.
• Masks must be worn by anyone with flu-like symptoms and by anyone who has been exposed to someone else who has.
• Visitors are asked to properly cover their cough, though if you have a cough you should not be visiting. If you do cough, cover it with a tissue or in the crook of your arm then wash your hands.
• Limit your movement in the hospital and only visit the patient that you are there to see or visit the Maine Cafe.
• Visitors are asked to sanitize their hands as they enter the hospital, during their visit and again as they exit the hospital.
• If a family member or friend is not feeling well, they should stay home.

The Maine Center for Disease Control reports that our flu season has not yet reached its peak. Measures should be taken at home, school and work to lessen it's spread in an effort to reduce fatalities in Maine's high risk populations.

Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.