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GoogleVisitors under the age of 15 are not allowed in patient rooms until the number of area flu cases decreases, said hospital spokeswoman Emily Sikes. Children are, however, allowed in the lobby and waiting areas, she said.
The policy went into effect Friday in response to the H1N1 virus, Sikes said. She said children in that age group are stronger carriers and more at risk for getting the virus. Exceptions can be made for patients and their families in certain circumstances, Sikes said.
Mark Bliss, spokesman for Southeast Missouri Hospital, said the hospital is not enacting a similar policy. He said the hospital does not screen visitors but they should take their own precautions.
"We request that if visitors are ill, they do not visit," he said.
Masks, tissues and hand sanitizer are available in the lobby to help avoid spreading illnesses, he said.
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center started vaccinating students in public and private schools throughout the county Wednesday. Nurses will vaccinate kindergartners and first-grade students first and continue administering vaccines to the older grades as supplies are available.
The Cape Girardeau School District is scheduled to receive its first round of vaccines today. Health care workers and first responders were the first to receive the vaccines when they arrived in Cape Girardeau County two weeks ago.
President Barack Obama declared a health emergency over the weekend to give hospitals and health professionals more leeway with federal regulations to respond to the illness. And on Sunday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Congress would be happy to provide additional support and money on a bipartisan basis, if the need arises.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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211 Saint Francis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO
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I don't think that is right what if say your family member is in the hospital and you can't get a babysitter then it's like the hospital saying you can't visit your family member at all and that is discrimination and against human rights and I bet SFMC will see alot of law suits because of this! I wanna know what SFMC's head ceo has to say about this!
You or also probably the first one who would sue them if you or your child under 15 got the flu while visiting.Saying they should have known better than to let us visit.If you remeber it used to be standard practice at both hospitals to not allow young kids to visit.
Uh Capeguy30 before you run off to your attorney you may want to check out the "national emergency" that President Obama just declared. This will allow hospitals to do things that they may have normally not been able to do. Look at www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1eme... specifically section 1135.
Also don't get sick in St. Louis because the age is 18 and under at some hospitals.
Capeguy30 - lawsuits? For discrimination? I applaud their efforts to protect their patients. Why on earth would you want to put people at risk like that?
I remember not too many years ago, you could never visit a patient in the hospital if you were under 16 years of age.
Please! Just another scare tactic. The flue kills over 30,000 people a year whether its h1n1 or not.
The reason the policy changed years ago at hospitals concerning young visitors is because it was ridiculous and served no purpose. almost everyone who dies of flu have another more serious condition. Those of you who don't use common sense and don't keep your hands clean and to yourself will probably come down with it.
As for our President declaring a National medical emergency well thats just one more ridiculous thing he has done.
I'm one of the older generation who also remembers when children under the age of 14-16 weren't allowed in some hospitals' patient rooms, or even on the patient floors. Was it inconvenient sometimes? Yes. Was it sad sometimes, especially for a mother to be hospitalized and not get to see her children? Yes. However ...
The safety/health of the patient should be the hospital's first consideration.