Hospitals lift visitor restrictions

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Responding to a recommendation from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, Parkview and Lutheran hospitals in Fort Wayne have lifted visitor restricitons that were put in place to fight the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

The health department made the recommendation on Monday, based on local and national surveillance which indicated that fewer cases of H1N1 are occurring.

“We very much appreciate the hospitals’ quick and measured response to the Department’s initial request to limit patient exposure to potentially infected young persons visiting the hospitals,” said Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan. “We understand that such policies can be difficult to implement due to the potential hardship on families visiting their ill relatives and the hospital staff due to a reduction in teen volunteers and interns.

Health officials say hospital visitors should continue to exercise good judgment and refrain from visiting people in the hospital if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms.