FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Eight more people have died of the flu in North Carolina, bringing the season total to 30 flu deaths.
For the first time this season, more people in North Carolina hospitals are being treated for the flu than for COVID-19. Last week there were 722 people in hospitals with the flu, an increase of 85% in just a week. There were 710 people hospitalized with COVID, an increase of 24% week-over-week.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 21% of all emergency department visits in the past week were for respiratory illnesses.
The rising numbers have prompted some hospitals to return to requiring masks and limiting visitation.
Masks required at Cape Fear Valley Health
Effective Dec. 28, masks are required for all patients and visitors in waiting rooms and other areas of the emergency departments of Cape Fear Valley Health, including Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayeteville, Bladen County Hospital, Hoke Hospital, Central Harnett Hospital and Betsy Johnson Hospital.
All Cape Fear Valley Health locations, including outpatient clinics, are limiting visitors.
In pediatric emergency departments, one parent or guardian is permitted in the waiting room, and two parents or guardians are allowed once the child is placed in a room.
Patients 65 and older or those who are cognitively impaired are allowed to have a visitor with them in the waiting room and triage areas.
Once a patient is assigned a room, adult patients will be allowed one visitor at a time.
Other hospitals in the Triangle are taking similar precautions as respiratory illnesses are on the rise.
WakeMed, UNC, Duke hospitals limit visitors
Beginning Jan. 2, visitors in all WakeMed hospital patient care areas, including waiting rooms, must be at least 12 years old, and employees will be masked when providing patient care.
Similar restrictions go into place Jan. 2 for UNC Hospitals’ Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Youth Behavioral Health campuses. Visitors 11 and younger are prohibited from all inpatient areas and all waiting rooms. Masks are strongly recommended for staff and encouraged for patients and visitors.
Duke University Health System is limiting visitors to two at a time per patient, and children under 12 are not permitted to visit hospitals or wards without prior approval from health care providers and for special circumstances.
Visitors to Duke hospitals are urged to wear masks and to perform hand washing frequently.
The hospital systems are all asking those with fever or respiratory illness symptoms – including cough or shortness of breath – to stay home unless seeking treatment by a doctor.
