GREENSBORO, N.C. — Starting Wednesday, Nov. 15, masks will be required and there will be visitor restrictions in areas that care for infants and children at Alamance Regional Medical Center and The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.
Due to an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), this is in place to protect younger children.
The percentage of children testing positive for RSV has nearly doubled in the past month at Cone Health.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be more serious in infants and older adults. Cone Health recorded a high volume of RSV cases in children last year.
Right now, RSV vaccines are approved for adults 60 and older and pregnant women. There isn’t currently an RSV vaccine that can be given directly to children.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about an RSV shot if eligible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 58,000-80,000 children younger than 5 years are hospitalized due to RSV infections yearly. The illness tends to be more prevalent this time of year.
To prevent the spread of RSV, visitors will be required to wear masks and children ages 12 and under will not be able to visit most labor and delivery units, neonatal intensive units, and special care units of Alamance Regional and Moses Cone Hospitals.
Children under 12 can still receive care in these hospitals.
For full visitation details, visit conehealth.com/visit.
RSV can be prevented in newborns if their moms are vaccinated at 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. Vaccines are also available for people over the age of 60. Pregnant women and people over 60 should ask their healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccine is right for them.
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