MONTREAL, Que. – In response to an unexpected volume of influenza cases, the Jewish General Hospital’s intensive care unit will not accept visitors who want to see patients, unless under specific and individual circumstances.
The visitors ban is effective until further notice.
The hospital is also requiring that all staff members, medical and non-medical, wear a face mask while working or entering the ICU.
“Such measures become necessary from time to time in order to safeguard our staff and patients, especially those individuals who are frail and are more vulnerable to infection,” explained Dr. Paul Warshawsky, the hospital’s ICU chief, in a statement.
“Although the Jewish General Hospital recognizes the important role that relatives and friends play in lifting the spirits of patients, we must also do our utmost to prevent the spread of infection,” added JGH Executive Director Dr. Hartley Stern.
The JGH would also like to remind the public to practice proper hand hygiene. While handwashing may appear old-fashioned and low-tech, it nevertheless remains one of the fastest, cheapest and most effective ways of stopping infection in its tracks.
If soap and water are not easily available, an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer is a suitable replacement.
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