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Visitor Restrictions Continue at QC Hospitals Due to COVID-19 & Flu

Nate Grigg, Flickr, https://flickr.com/photos/nateone/3287560103/
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Nate Grigg, Flickr
An example of what's not allowed right now at hospitals in the Quad Cities

Unity Point Trinity and Genesis health systems in the Quad Cities are asking people not to visit the hospital if they're sick. The goal is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu.

Credit Michelle O'Neill / WVIK News
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WVIK News
Lisa Caffery, Genesis Infection Prevention Coordinator (L) & Angel Mueller, Unity Point Health Trinity Director of Quality and Infection Prevention

Angel Mueller, Unity Point's Director of Quality and Infection Prevention, says the hospitals' top priorities are the safety and health of patients, employees, and visitors.

So it's best for anyone who's sick to postpone their visit until after they've recovered.

Lisa Caffery, Infection Prevention Coordinator at Genesis, says some people will have to visit a hospital even if they have symptoms of an infection. And they should take extra precautions such as washing hands, using hand sanitizer, keeping visits as short as possible, and not hanging around lobbies or cafeterias.

The visitor restrictions at Genesis and Unity Point Trinity include also include no visitors under the age of 18 and only two visitors at a time.

Those who have any of the following should postpone their visits: flu-like symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. Each hospital has posted its visitor policies online - Genesis Health System Quad Cities locations and Unity Point Health Quad Cities locations.

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.
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