People with flu can spread it to others up to six feet away through coughs and sneezes.
That includes the two hospitals on the Greenville Memorial Medical Campus, as well as the Women’s Center on the Greer and Laurens medical campuses.
As of now, this is a request only and is not mandatory
“We are doing this to protect our patients, the community and even visiting children against the spread of seasonal flu,” said Michelle Taylor Smith, GHS vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer.
GHS is experiencing the heaviest flu season it’s seen in at least the past six years.
As of Monday (Jan. 6) the number of positive flu cases had almost doubled each of the last three weeks.
• Week of Dec. 8, GHS had 66 positive flu tests
• Week of Dec. 15, 181 positive flu tests
• Week of Dec. 22, 293 positive flu cases.
GHS has had more than 1,000 positive flu tests since October. Approximately 80 people have been admitted to GHS hospitals due to flu.