Hospital restrictions continue

North Bay General Hospital continues to monitor the influenza outbreak on the Rehabilitation Unit (McLaren Site 300 West) and will continue to restrict visitors to this unit until further notice.

For the protection of our patients further restrictions are being enforced. Visitors are now restricted on 4West, Scollard site. As well, Paediatric visitors are restricted to parents and guardians only.

The hospital is asking that children not visit the hospital at this time. Visitors and caregivers are asked not to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.

The hospital is monitoring the situation on a continuous basis and will reassess the situation on Wednesday to see if a Full Visitor Restriction is needed.

Those visitors who do enter the hospital are reminded to wash their hands with the alcohol rinse provided in each lobby before entering AND leaving the facility.

The public is reminded that influenza and gastro illness are easily transmitted and can greatly affect patients and the staff providing care. This effort protects patients and staff from what could be serious complications from the flu and gastro illness. Since influenza and gastro illness are so easily transmitted there is a greater chance of our patients and staff becoming ill if someone experiencing symptoms chooses to visit.

Symptoms of influenza include: fever, sore throat, chest congestion, nausea and/or vomiting, muscle aches and pain. Transmission is by respiratory droplets—a sneeze and direct or indirect contact from contaminated hands and surfaces. Adults are infectious in three to five days from the onset, and children are infectious up to seven days from onset.