Thinking of visiting a loved one? If you’re feeling sick, please stay home
At Norfolk General Hospital (NGH), protecting our patients, healthcare workers, and community is our top priority—especially as flu season approaches. Even if it’s just a slight cough or a tickle in your throat, staying home is the best way to show you care.
Why it matters
What might feel like a mild illness to you could be much more serious for someone in the hospital. Illnesses like the flu or even a cold can easily spread, and for someone already dealing with health challenges, it can make recovery much harder. So, if you’re feeling under the weather—even just a little—it’s best to skip the visit and stay home.
Visitor Guidelines
At NGH, we allow two visitors per patient at a time, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Before visiting, we kindly ask that you complete a quick health screening to ensure you are symptom-free.
Masks are recommended in certain areas like inpatient units and the emergency department, and you can pick one up at any entrance. If you’re not feeling well, we strongly recommend avoiding in-person visits altogether.
During an outbreak, we ask that only essential care providers visit. This helps keep everyone safe by reducing the spread of illness.
Stay connected in other ways
You can still show your support for your loved one without visiting in person. Here are some alternatives:
- Virtual visits: Use a tablet or phone to video call. Don’t have a device? No worries—our hospital units have tablets available for virtual visits.
- Email-a-patient: Sending a note through the hospital’s free email-a-patient service.
Symptoms to watch for
If you have any of the following symptoms, and want to visit a loved one in the hospital, it’s better to stay home and get rest.
- Cough
- Fever
- Body aches
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy (tiredness)
Wearing a mask in public spaces and making sure your vaccinations are up to date are also great ways to protect others. By staying home when you’re not feeling well, you help us keep our hospital safe for those who need it most.
Let’s work together to protect each other—if in doubt, it’s always better to stay home.
