Hospitals Restrict Visitors as Influenza Rates Spike

Albany Med Health System has become the latest hospital system to restrict visitors to patients in their facilities. 

The new guidelines went into effect on Dec. 15 and impacted Saratoga Hospital, Glens Falls Hospital, Albany Medical Center and Columbia Memorial Hospital. 

Under the new restrictions, children under 12, visitors with flu-like symptoms, rashes and diarrhea are all prohibited from visiting patients.  In addition, only two visitors are allowed to visit a patient’s bedside at one time. 

In a press release, the hospital said the restrictions were put in place to help limit transmission of illnesses to protect visitors and staff. 

Albany Med isn’t the first local hospital to implement visitor restrictions. Ellis Medicine implemented similar restrictions on Dec. 3 and Trinity Health System — which includes St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany and Samaritan Hospital in Troy — implemented the restrictions on Dec. 8. 

The restrictions come amid a spike in flu cases across New York. As of Dec. 6, there have been 24,287 lab confirmed cases of flu in New York State this season resulting in 1,399 hospitalizations for the virus, according to the Department of Health. Saratoga County alone has seen 134 lab confirmed cases, a rate of 55.75 cases per 100,000 residents. These cases have resulted in 5 hospitalizations. 

Downstate has been hit hardest by the virus with Kings County (Brooklyn) seeing 4,314 cases — the most anywhere in the state. Meanwhile, Westchester County has seen the highest rate of cases 184.91 cases per 100,000 residents. In terms of hospitalization, Bronx County has seen the most with 197 hospitalizations at a rate of 14.23 per 100,000 residents.