Logan Regional Restricts Visitors to Help Prevent Flu

Because of a slight increase in influenza-like illnesses reported in local health clinics, Logan Regional Hospital is restricting visitors to age 14 and older as a precautionary measure to protect patients and the public.

Hospital leaders are also joining with representatives from the Bear River Health Department to encourage all community residents to take measures to prevent the spread of influenza-like illness on an ongoing basis. These measures include washing hands and using hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill.

“We have not seen a significant increase in patients coming to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, but there has been a measurable increase in the number of patients coming to local urgent-care clinics like InstaCare with these symptoms,” said Bob Cash, Logan Regional Hospital CEO. “We have an ongoing plan in place to respond to measurable local and state data related to influenza-like illness. Limiting visitors to age 14 and older is part of that plan. We do this to prevent the spread of illness among patients and those visiting our hospital.”

No one under the age of 14 should come to the Logan Regional Hospital unless they are here for a medical reason. In addition, people of all ages with fever, cough, headache, fatigue, runny or stuffy nose, or body aches should not come to the hospital unless they are here as a patient. Patients with these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask.

Preventive measures all community residents should take on an ongoing basis to prevent the spread of illness include:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap or use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your upper sleeve. Put the used tissue in a wastebasket.
• Stay home if you are sick.