Flu Restrictions: Hospital Bars Children From Visiting

Concern about an increase in flu cases has forced Inova Fairfax Hospital to impose tight restrictions on visitors today, barring those under 16 and asking others to wear masks and wash their hands frequently.

The temporary measures went into effect at 7 a.m. Monday and will remain in effect until further notice, the hospital announced. They include:

• No visitors under the age of 16.
• No visitors with any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
• Visitors will be limited to two persons.
• Visitors may be issued masks for use while visiting, and asked to wash hands frequently.
• For Women’s and Children’s Units as well as Adult Critical Care and oncology patients, additional measures may apply.
• A patient care companion is not a visitor, and is allowed to stay with the patient.

The sprawling medical campus on Gallows Road in Falls Church, jusr west of the Beltway (Interstate 495), is the largest hospital in Northern Virginia.

“These temporary measures will help protect against influenza infection of the most vulnerable among us, including inpatients with compromised immune systems as well as our caregivers,” said Dr. Loring Flint, Inova’s chief medical officer, in a statement. “We appreciate everyone’s consideration and cooperation as, together, we work to assure the health and safety of our community during flu season.”

The hospital said that when the level of flu infections decreases, it will return to its open visitation policy.