Local hospital systems are removing restrictions involving visitors and masking.
Starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, Charlotte-area Atrium Health hospitals will remove all restrictions limiting visitors aged 12 and under.
Furthermore, masking will be optional in all Atrium Health facilities except for some areas, including units with cancer or other areas where patients typically have compromised immunity and emergency department waiting rooms.
Novant Health also announced that beginning on March 21 at 7 a.m., all Novant Health hospitals will lift visitor restrictions for those under the age of 13.
The decision comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidelines for COVID-19 in early March.
The new guidelines say that people who have COVID will no longer need to quarantine if they’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours or if symptoms improved for 24 hours.
Masks will still be available at Atrium Health facilities for anyone who chooses to wear one, but are no longer required.
Cases trending down
Cases of respiratory illnesses may be down for several reasons, including vaccinations, increased awareness and hygiene practice, according to Dr. Katie Passaretti, vice president and chief epidemiologist at Atrium Health.
From Feb. 23 to March 7, 2024, Mecklenburg County saw 623 emergency department visits for COVID-like illnesses. Of those visits, 111, or around 18%, resulted in hospital admission, according to Mecklenburg County.
Statewide, as of March 6, around 8% of emergency room visits had symptoms of a respiratory illness, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
That’s down from the week before, which had 10% of emergency room visits show symptoms of a respiratory illness.
Hospital admissions are also down statewide. The week ending on March 9, 1,237 people in North Carolina were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of a respiratory illness. That’s down from to the week before, which had 1,486 admissions.
For comparison, in the week of Feb. 13, 2022, Mecklenburg County averaged 400 Covid-related hospitalizations a day.
Staying safe
Despite the changes, Atrium Health officials say remaining aware of respiratory illnesses is still important.
“While we celebrate this progress, we must remain vigilant and responsive to any potential changes in the situation,” Dr. Passaretti said in a statement. “Our focus remains on providing safe and effective care to all patients, and this decision is a testament to our collective efforts in combating infectious diseases.”
To reduce the chances of getting sick, Atrium Health recommends frequent handwashing with soap and warm water or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands and staying home if you don’t feel well.
A previous version of this article did not include Novant Health’s policy changes.
