Temporary precautions are necessary to ensure the health and safety of our patients and teammates
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In response to recent increasing trends of respiratory illness in our community, UNC Hospitals, UNC Health Rex and UNC Health Johnston will begin age-based visitor restrictions in our facilities.
The following restrictions and guidance go into effect at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6 for all UNC Hospitals (including our Chapel Hill and Hillsborough campuses) and UNC Faculty Physicians inpatient locations:
- Temporary, age-based visitor restrictions for all inpatient and waiting areas across our inpatient hospitals.
- In addition, all teammates at the following inpatient locations are required to wear masks while providing direct patient care:
- Emergency Departments
- Adult and Pediatric ICUs
- Adult and Pediatric Stepdown units
- Adult and Pediatric Oncology units.
- Masks are strongly encouraged for patients and visitors in these units.
UNC Health Rex will implement the following changes effective Wednesday, Jan. 8, at both the main Raleigh campus and Holly Springs hospital:
- Restrict visitors aged 11 and younger from inpatient areas, ED and all waiting rooms.
- Require that teammates mask during patient care activities in the ED, all ICUs and 5E (oncology).
- Recommend that teammates mask in other areas.
- Masks are also strongly encouraged for patients and visitors.
UNC Health Johnston will implement new visitor restrictions on Monday, Jan. 6, at 7 a.m. at both the Clayton and Smithfield hospitals:
- Visitors aged 12 and younger are not permitted in inpatient areas or waiting rooms.
- Anyone with respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing, sneezing, fever) is also prohibited from these areas.
- In Women’s Services, our RSV visiting policy will be in effect, which prohibits visitors under age 18.
These temporary precautions are necessary to ensure the health and safety of our patients and teammates. We recognize the strain that such restrictions can place on our patients and their loved ones. Leadership and infectious diseases experts will continue to monitor the infection data and either escalate or de-escalate precautions based on data. Thank you for helping us create a safer environment for the community.
About Age-Based Visitor Restrictions
- Applicable to visitors aged 11 years old and younger.
- These visitors will be prohibited from all inpatient areas and all waiting rooms.
- All visitors with respiratory symptoms are prohibited from these same areas.
- Healthy visitors of any age remain welcome in our lobbies and retail/food locations.
Note: Patient visitation by a child 11 years old or younger may be granted by area leadership for exceptional circumstances during this restriction period. Special visiting privileges will be considered in cases such as visiting terminal care patients, critical care situations, and urgent admissions. Exceptions may be necessary and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of nearly 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM. UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience.