Due to the flu epidemic, visiting restrictions have been introduced at the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS), reports LETA citing the institution.
Starting Tuesday, due to the declared flu epidemic in the country, only severely or critically ill patients can be visited at RAKUS — with the permission of the attending physician or head of the department and with strict adherence to epidemiological safety measures.
Visitors with any symptoms of acute viral infection — cough, sneezing, runny nose, or fever — will not be allowed to visit patients.
At the same time, only one person will be allowed to visit one patient.
It is also strictly prohibited to enter the wards of the Eastern Hospital in outer clothing, and while in the hospital, it is necessary to wear a medical mask.
Due to the visiting restrictions, relatives can send packages with necessary items to patients, such as glasses, clothing, hygiene products, books, and periodicals, as well as food suitable for their health condition.
Patients can also receive various technical devices — mobile phones, computers, tablets, headphones, and accompanying accessories, such as chargers.
If a patient was taking prescribed medications before hospitalization and needs to continue them in the hospital, medications can be sent to the patient with the agreement of the attending or on-duty physician.
The receipt and transfer of packages intended for the patient are carried out by the staff of the relevant medical department where the patient is being treated.
RAKUS specialists urge people who are scheduled for surgery during the flu season, have planned medical procedures in healthcare institutions, or are visiting a family doctor or another specialist, and who have not been vaccinated against the flu this season, to be especially careful and follow precautionary and hygiene measures to avoid getting sick.
To avoid putting their own health, that of their loved ones, and colleagues at risk, doctors at the Eastern Hospital urge everyone to take precautions and stay home if they have symptoms of illness, considering alternative solutions, such as calling a family doctor to the home or a remote consultation.
It was previously reported that due to the flu epidemic, visiting restrictions began to be introduced in other hospitals, according to reports from medical institutions.
Starting Tuesday, visiting restrictions have also been introduced at the Daugavpils Hospital and the Trauma and Orthopedics Hospital.
To protect patients and staff from the risk of infection, such restrictions are implemented annually and are likely to be applied in other healthcare institutions as well.
As reported, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) announced the start of the flu epidemic on Tuesday, based on flu monitoring data provided by the National Reference Microbiology Laboratory (NRML).
From December 1 to 7, the proportion of positive flu samples in the NRML sharply increased — to 18.1% compared to 9.1% the previous week. Thus, the epidemic threshold was exceeded.
The CDPC continues to collect other flu monitoring data for this period, which will be published in weekly reviews.
Experts remind that the flu is hardest on elderly people and patients with chronic diseases — cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney diseases, diabetes, oncological and chronic infectious diseases, as well as individuals with weakened immune systems. The flu is especially dangerous for small children and pregnant women.
The best protection against the flu and its complications is vaccination. Considering that immunity develops 10–14 days after vaccination, and the spread of the flu usually continues until the end of May, specialists emphasize that it is not too late to get vaccinated even during an epidemic, especially if medical services are planned — for example, scheduled surgery or inpatient treatment.
The CDPC website provides information on which medical institutions offer state vaccinations against the flu for at-risk patients if the family doctor's practice does not have the vaccine available. The list is regularly updated based on vaccine availability, the CDPC reports.
