CHARLOTTE, N.C. — All Carolinas Healthcare System hospitals, including Carolinas Medical Center, started new policies Thursday in an effort to protect people from the flu.
Visitors under 12 will not be allowed to visit patients.
Presbyterian Hospital leaders will meet Friday to decide whether it will make changes to its visitor policy.
This year’s flu outbreak is considered one of the worst in a decade. Experts say this strain could leave sufferers infected and contagious for up to five days without any symptoms.
Then they would get a fever, headache, muscle pains, sore throat, stuffy nose and dry cough, experts say. These symptoms could last for weeks.
The harsh flu season could also be bad for the economy. That’s because people calling out sick and canceling meetings can slow productivity growth.
One study by an outplacement firm found that on average the flu costs employers $10.4 billion in hospital and doctors’ visits. That doesn’t include sick pay and other business costs.
WSOC
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