Masks and visitor requirements start at Carle Health hospitals

(WAND) — Carle Heath has joined other local hospitals in implementing mask and visitor guidelines to reduce the spread of illness.

Starting Monday, January 13, masks are urged for those with respiratory illness symptoms, depending on the hospital, center, or clinic. The number of visitors is limited, with most locations only allowing one to two visitors over the age of 18. So, before heading out to an appointment or visiting someone, click here to see the current requirements.

The health organization has hospitals and clinics throughout the central Illinois area.

Robert Healy, MD, medical director of Carle Health Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience, said the measures help control the spread of illness.

“As we have in previous years, during peak respiratory illness season Carle Health reviews our PPE and visitor guidelines to take every measure possible to limit the spread of infection. We have an expert team of infection preventionists who continually monitor metrics for diseases like the flu, RSV, COVID-19 and others. This along with national and state Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) metrics and industry best practices help us decide when it’s time to update our guidelines.”

The health organization said there are various studies showing how mask wearing helps reduce the transmission of viral illnesses.

This comes after the IDPH recommended that healthcare providers in the state take additional steps as respiratory illnesses increase throughout the state.

“Our care teams continue to encounter an increasing rate of these respiratory infections so we know first-hand that this national trend is also reflected here locally. With everything we know about how to mitigate the spread of disease, these safeguards will help keep more people in our community well,” Dr. Healy said.

Carle Health added that they will continue to update when they lift the temporary restrictions.

The organization encourages all people in the community to remember that efforts have worked in the circulation of other illnesses. They also remind people to wash their hands, wear a mask when symptomatic, stay home when feeling sick, and be up to date on their vaccines.