COLUMBIA, S.C. — Due to the increase in cases of seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses, Prisma Health has announced it will begin restricting children under the age of 16 from patient visitation at its hospitals until further notice. The restrictions begin Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
“We are doing this to protect our patients, their loved ones and our own team members against the spread of seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses,” said Dr. Sangita Dash, an infectious disease specialist at Prisma Health. Certain exceptions may be allowed at the discretion of hospital administration, she said.
In the Columbia area, the health care system includes Prisma Health Richland, Prisma Health Baptist, Prisma Health Heart, and Prisma Health Children's Hospital.
Prisma Health will continue to monitor the situation and adjust visitation as appropriate to keep patients, loved ones and team members safe. Masking is recommended for visitors, to help avoid the spread of respiratory illness, but is not required.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been tracking the number of cases of flu, COVID, and other respiratory illnesses. Nationwide, the CDC has seen an increase in emergency room visits (+6.6%), hospitalizations(+10.4%) and deaths related to COVID (+3.4%) in the past week.
In South Carolina, DHEC's Flu Watch for the week of December 10-16 shows there were 370 flu-associated hospitalizations at 54 hospitals and one flue-related death. Since the beginning of the flu season, there have been 12 flu-related deaths reported in South Carolina, the first reported was on September 27.
DHEC is recommending that all eligible people 6 months of age and older receive the latest flu and COVID-variant vaccines to protect against seasonal respiratory illness. The agency is offering flu vaccines at select county health departments. If you have symptoms, it is advised that you stay home, get tested, and seek treatment for respiratory illness.