DETROIT – The Detroit Medical Center put new visitor guidelines in place due to a rise in flu cases, officials said.
New visitor guidelines went into effect on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at all DMC facilities, including Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
“According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan influenza activity is also now increasing rapidly. In this period of increased influenza activity in the community, we made these changes for the safety and care of our patients,” said Dr. Teena Chopra, MPH, Corporate Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology and Antibiotic Stewardship for Detroit Medical Center, and professor of infectious diseases at Wayne State University.
The following guidelines were placed in effect:
- All patients are allowed up to two visitors at any one time.
- Visitors ages 12 and under, including siblings and other relatives, will not be allowed on inpatient hospital floors or in the observation units.
- Visitors ages 13 and over who have a fever, cough or rash are asked to choose another time to visit. This applies to both private and semi-private rooms. If hospitals have policies that are more restrictive than the proposed guidelines, they will continue to use them.
- Visitors who exhibit illness or cold symptoms are encouraged to visit during a period of wellness.