Duke Health Places Additional Restrictions on Hospital and Clinic Visitors
People who have fever, breathing trouble will not be allowed to visit patients
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DURHAM, N.C. – In response to the increased circulation of the novel coronavirus, Duke Health has placed additional restrictions on hospital and clinic visitors to minimize the spread of both COVID-19 and seasonal flu.
Visitors will not be allowed to enter our hospitals between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am except in the event of an emergency.
Effective March 16th, all patients and visitors to Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital, along with all Duke Health clinics, will be asked if they have symptoms of illness and exposure risks upon arrival.
Hospital and clinic patients will be permitted one person over the age of 12 to accompany them to an appointment.
Those who are determined to have non-severe symptoms such as fever or cough will be given information about what to do and asked to return home to help prevent the potential spread of illness.
People who are actively experiencing severe symptoms – including fever and respiratory trouble – should call their doctor before going to any health care facility for guidance on what to do next. Patients who do not call ahead risk infecting other patients as well as care providers.
If symptoms are mild, people are advised to stay home, avoid contact with others and call the North Carolina COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-462-3821 (open 24 hours, seven days a week), or the Duke Health COVID-19 Hotline at 919-385-0429 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday). If symptoms are severe call 911.
Everyone should take precautions to:
• wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
• avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• avoid contact with sick people
• avoid large crowds.
More information is available at https://www.dukehealth.org/covid-19-update
or at the cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.