3 Bergen Hospitals Ban Kids From Visiting Due To Flu Outbreak

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Three local hospitals are just some of the medical facilities limiting visitors based on their age due to the flu epidemic that is sweeping across New Jersey and the nation.

Hackensack University Medical Center is restricting all children younger than 12 from visiting "until further notice," Dr. Cristina Cicogna, an epidemiologist at the hospital said in a statement.

"Frequently, children are contagious before they begin showing signs of illness and are highly susceptible. Allowing this age group to visit could potentially be putting patients, visitors and children at risk," Cicogna said. Visits such as preparing for a death, the birth of a baby and other circumstances will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and are up to the discretion of the nurse manager.

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is prohibiting all sick visitors from visiting. Children 14 and younger will not be allowed to visit at all and visitors younger than 18 are not permitted in the pediatric, labor and delivery, and the adult and children intensive care units.

"Individuals with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea should stay home and refrain from visiting," said Michael Chananie, a hospital spokesperson said.

Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck is restricting visitors younger than 18 from coming into the hospital, Jessica Griffin, a hospital spokesperson said.

Other New Jersey hospitals have enacted similar policies.

CentraState Medical Center in Freehold announced Thursday they will not let visitors younger than 14 into the hospital. At Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, kids 12 and under are not allowed into the hospital. Newark Beth Israel is not allowing kids younger than 15.

Other hospitals are taking even more creative measures: Starting this past Wednesday, Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington began screening all patients, regardless of age, for cold and flu symptoms at the door. Visitors showing any flu-like symptoms are being turned away.

Related: Flu Outbreak: These NJ Hospitals Won't Let Kids Visit

Additional reporting by Carly Baldwin, Patch staff

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