Children younger than 12 years old are not allowed to visit patients at local hospital

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Navicent Health has temporarily changed its visitation policy for children younger than 12 years old.

Dr. Thomas Oliver said the hospital wants to prevent children from getting the flu.

“The health and safety of our patients, the staff, and the general population overall are of the most importance to us here at Navicent Health,” Oliver said.

This is why hospital administrators implemented the visitor policy for children years ago.

“We noticed an uptick in the number of cases of influenza or flu in this area,” Oliver said.

The annual policy prohibits children younger than 12 years old to visit patients at Navicent Health locations.

“Young children or people with serious medical conditions are more prone to develop complications after they get the flu,” he said.

Oliver said this policy can last until May or June depending on how high flu cases are around that time.

Navicent Health is not the only hospital that has a policy like this in place. Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital also prohibits children younger than 12 years old to visit patients during the flu season.

The Coliseum began prohibiting children from visiting patients back in October.

The hospital said, “children must remain on the first floor and be supervised by an adult. In certain situations, visitation may be permitted for short visits, but must be approved by administration.
Thank you for your cooperation.”

Oliver said there is one exception to the visitors’ rule at Navicent.

“Women who have just delivered and have newborns, sometimes it’s important that families for sibling to bond with their newborn sibling,” he said.

Oliver said nurses will screen to make sure the children visiting don’t show signs of the flu.

He said if there is a situation where a family member is very sick or possibly dying and children want to visit, the hospital will evaluate the situation and determine if it’s okay for the children to visit.