Because the number of influenza cases has significantly increased in our area, Wake Forest Baptist Health will implement temporary visitor restrictions starting at 7 a.m. on Feb. 8.

To help control the spread of the virus and to protect the health of our patients, their loved ones and medical staff, these restrictions will remain in effect through the remainder of the flu season.
The restrictions apply to all Wake Forest Baptist inpatient locations:
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Wake Forest Baptist Health – Davie Medical Center
Wake Forest Baptist Health – High Point Medical Center
Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center
Wake Forest Baptist Health – Wilkes Medical Center
Effective Feb. 8, children age 12 and under may not visit patients. Exceptions for extenuating family circumstances may be allowed, but parents or guardians must first check with the patient’s nurse.
Healthy adult visitors and healthy family members age 13 and older are welcome to visit patients.
“Vaccination is still the best protection, and for people who have not yet received the influenza vaccine, it is not too late,” said Larry Givner, M.D., professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Wake Forest Baptist Health. “We always remind visitors and family members – regardless of their age – that they should be healthy and free from fever, cough colds or stomach virus symptoms in order to visit patients.”
Wake Forest Baptist continues to monitor the influenza rates daily and will take appropriate steps to further restrict visitors, if needed, or lift the restrictions when the number of flu cases decreases.
The decision to enact temporary visitor restrictions is a collaborative effort among five regional health systems: Atrium Health, Cone Health, Novant Health, Randolph Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health. These health systems are enacting visitor restrictions at the same time because they share the same geographic area and have similar rates of influenza in the community.