GRAND RAPIDS, MI – In response to the increasing number of respiratory illnesses affecting the community, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has announced new visitor restrictions in its pediatric areas, effective immediately.
Corewell Health, the hospital’s parent organization, issued temporary guidelines on Thursday, January 30, limiting the number of visitors allowed in pediatric inpatient units. Under the new policy, only two visitors are permitted at the bedside of patients during the day, while only one visitor is allowed overnight. These measures come as the hospital experiences a significant rise in pediatric admissions due to respiratory illnesses such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and the flu.
Hospital officials stated that the decision to limit visitors was made in response to the increased strain on hospital resources caused by the surge in cases. Although these restrictions are limited to inpatient pediatric units, hospital staff are still working to provide care to all patients, and families should be prepared for potential longer wait times or the use of non-traditional settings for patient care due to the high volume of admissions.
While masks are optional for patients and visitors at most Corewell Health sites, they are still required in long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and transplant clinics. The hospital also continues to urge families to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including staying home from school or work when sick, frequent handwashing, and vaccination against influenza, whooping cough, RSV, and COVID-19.
Corewell Health has encouraged families to discuss the availability of new RSV vaccines with their healthcare providers, particularly those for pregnant individuals, adults over the age of 65, and young children. The hospital’s visitor guidelines and flu information can be found on its official website.
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is not the only healthcare facility in Michigan implementing visitor restrictions in response to rising RSV cases. Detroit Medical Center has also put similar measures in place at its hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has continued to urge residents to get vaccinated, as fewer than one in four Michigan residents have received a flu shot this year, and only about one in ten have received the latest COVID-19 booster. With the ongoing rise in respiratory illnesses, state health officials have warned that the situation may worsen in the coming weeks, following national trends.
As the situation develops, health authorities are advising residents to remain vigilant and take preventive measures to help curb the spread of illness.
