>Prince Of Peace School has now cancelled classes for Thursday & Friday due the high number of illnesses among students and staff
Mercy Medical Center in Clinton is implementing a visitation restriction effective immediately. This restriction is to limit patient visitation due to Influenza in our community. Click ‘Read more’ for statement from MMC and other related information. Links included for more information
For the safety of patients, visitors and employees, Mercy Medical Center representatives request that all children under age 14 and any individuals (all ages) with respiratory and/or influenza symptoms, such as coughing, fever, aches, and nausea, refrain from visiting hospitalized patients and residents of Mercy’s Living Centers until further notice.
The restriction is a safety precaution to maintain a healthy hospital environment. The decision to limit visitors to this age group is because children can have the flu and be contagious days before developing symptoms. Also, children are less likely to follow hand hygiene practices following coughing or sneezing.
Mercy Medical Center will continue to work with the local and state health departments to monitor the status of influenza throughout the counties we serve and adjust visiting limitations once the threat to patients, families and employees decreases.
Community Health Manager Michelle Cullen, of the Genesis Health System – says the flu is not a reportable investigation unless it gets to an outbreak stage. Cullen says the state does monitor the area and the are is considered to have widespread cases.
She says some long term care facilities and schools have reported a high number of cases.
Link: Iowa Department of Public Health Influenza Reports
Link: Iowa Department of Public Health Influenza Surveilance
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The high number of cases illness has also prompted the Prince Of Peace School in Clinton to close Thursday and Friday. According to reports-school officials say absences of students and staff were about 20 percent.
No decisions have been announced yet on some of the activities for the school with no classes today or tomorrow.
