DURHAM, N.C. -- Due to a significant decrease of respiratory illnesses in the Triangle, all Duke University Health System hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers will remove patient visitation restrictions, effective Tuesday, March 5, 2024. 

The previous restrictions limited daytime visitors of hospital and ambulatory surgery patients to no more than two people aged 12 and older. The move was part of a multi-step approach to protect patients and prevent the spread of influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital, as well as the Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center, Duke Health Center Arringdon, Duke North Pavilion, and the James E. Davis Ambulatory Surgical Center.

New visitation highlights include:

• Up to four visitors at a time where space permits; switching is allowed.
   
• Visiting hours for inpatient, bone marrow transplant, and ICU units: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily.
   
• Visiting hours for maternity, end of life, emergency department, procedural and perioperative surgical units: 24/7 access.
   
• Visitors of all ages are allowed in inpatient, maternity, and ambulatory spaces.
   
• Visitors must be 18+ in perioperative/surgical/procedural areas.

Additional visitation and masking precautions may apply to certain patient populations. Exceptions to visitation restrictions may be granted based on special circumstances.