NORFOLK, Va. — Young children looking to visit a loved one at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters will have to stay at home for the time being.
A spike in respiratory illnesses caused CHKD to temporarily close its doors to visitors under the age of 12.
Effective immediately, the young visitors are no longer allowed to visit inside the Norfolk hospital.
Dr. Laura Sass, a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, said hospital leaders made the change in order to stop the spread of infectious respiratory illnesses like RSV, COVID-19 and the flu.
She also said sometimes, young children can be carriers of the illnesses doctors are trying to avoid.
"Unfortunately small children do not always have the best hygiene," said Sass. "We don't want healthy children to come into the hospital and get sick, or vice versa."
It's not the first time the hospital has changed it's visitor policy. Visitation became strictly limited during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sass said this visitation policy is expected to last several months, but could end by early spring.
"Just until the peak season of respiratory illnesses is over, as our peak seasons happen every year around December and July," said Sass.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.8 million people have contracted the flu at some point this year. This has resulted in 17,000 hospitalizations, and more than 1,000 deaths.
Both Dr. Sass and CDC health experts said the best way to protect yourself and your family from the severe impacts of respiratory illnesses is to get vaccinated.
