ROYAL OAK (WWJ) – As cases of respiratory infections increase among young children, Corewell Health is restricting the number of hospital visitors younger patients can receive this holiday season.
Effective immediately, their hospitals in Dearborn, Royal Oak and Troy are only allowing patients 21 years old and younger in their pediatric inpatient units and emergency centers to have two visitors during daytime hours and one visitor overnight.
Corewell’s Dr. Evelyn Laskowski tells WWJ the restrictions are “strictly precautionary” and the spike in respiratory cases isn’t uncommon for this time of year.
“We are seeing a lot of respiratory viruses, especially affecting our youngest patients: infants and young children, especially young toddlers,” Laskowski said.
Laskowski notes the health system is seeing “a lot” of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and several other respiratory viruses that are going around.
“We are not seeing a lot of COVID and we are also not seeing a lot of influenza just yet,” she said.
While Laskowski says the hospitals aren’t currently “surging,” patients and parents can expect longer-than-usual waits at emergency rooms and urgent care facilities.
“It does not feel anywhere near the unprecedented surge we had, especially in November of 2022. This feels very much like a typical year that we are well prepared to handle,” Laskowski said.
Corewell Health officials say the best way to protect yourself and children from respiratory viruses is to stay home if you’re sick, wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19.
Laskowski says it’s “always a good idea” to stay home if you’re sick, as well as to avoid babies and young children.
“Remember that a simple cold for somebody that is older or has a fully functioning immune system could be a substantially more significant illness for infants and young children, or older adults as well, and could lead to difficulty breathing, requiring hospitalization in those at-risk populations,” she said.
Corewell says new RSV preventives have been approved and recommends talking to your pediatrician, obstetrician or primary care physician for more information.
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