Contact: media@bannerhealth.com

PHOENIX (Dec. 1, 2017) –  Concerned that this may be a worse flu season than normal, Banner Health has taken early steps to protect patients, visitors and staff at all of its hospitals.

Effective today, the following restrictions are now in effect:

• Do not visit the hospital if you have a fever, cough, vomiting or diarrhea.

• Please, no visitors under the age of 13.

  • Siblings, who do not have cold and flu symptoms, may visit a new baby on the Obstetrics unit or Pediatric unit.   Your child may be screened for illness by staff before being allowed to visit.

• Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times in public waiting areas and cafeterias.

• Please wash or sanitize your hands frequently while at the hospital.

Looking at predictors such as the flu seasons in Australia and other parts of the world, many experts believe this may be a worse-than-average flu season. The good news is that scientists believe the strain of flu seen so far is included in this year's flu vaccine.

Banner Health encourages everyone over the age of six months to receive the flu vaccine to protect themselves and others from influenza. Talk to your primary care doctor today. Or, visit a Banner Urgent Care – the vaccine is free under most insurance plans. Our sites are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can reserve your spot online at bannerhealth.com.

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for protection to set in.

All Banner Health employees, employed physicians, volunteers and students received a flu vaccination by Dec. 1. Those not vaccinated because of medical or religious reasons are required to wear a mask while in care settings (such as hospitals) during the flu season.

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 2 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services, including family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.

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