News

Contact: Rebecca Green

Due to cases of pertussis (whooping cough) now being seen in Whiteside County, CGH Medical Center has implemented temporary visitor restrictions effective immediately. While we realize these temporary steps may result in some inconvenience to family members and other visitors, especially over the holiday weekend, the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and staff is our highest priority.

Until further notice, visitor restrictions include:

• Visitors will be limited to 2 adults per patient at any time.
• No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for children and babies less than a year old.
• All visitors must be symptom-free (no fever with cough or cold). Other pertussis symptoms include runny nose, sore watery red eyes, a dry cough and exhaustion.
• Patients coming to the CGH ED or outpatient clinics with pertussis symptoms will be asked to wear a mask.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Make sure you clean your hands when entering and leaving the patient’s room by washing with soap and water or rubbing your hands together with hand sanitizer (located in every patient room and throughout the hospital).

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is spread when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, or has contact with hands, tissues and other infected objects. It is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After cough fits, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which result in a “whooping” sound.

Thank you for your cooperation and support. Together, we can prevent the spread of pertussis. For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/whoopingcough.