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MARIETTA – Memorial Health System announced Tuesday it is experiencing a high surge in patients with respiratory illnesses and to help protect patients, visitors, and care teams, visitor restrictions are now in place at all Memorial Health System locations.

Visitor guidelines include:

* A maximum of two visitors per patient

* Visitors must be 18 years of age or older and show no signs of illness

* Exceptions may be permitted for 3 West (sibling visitation) and end-of-life care

*All permitted minors must be accompanied by an adult and show no signs of illness

* Masks are encouraged, but not required

Additional restrictions may apply to specialized units and certain illnesses.

In addition to these restrictions, providers ask individuals experiencing mild to moderate respiratory symptoms to schedule an appointment with their primary care provider or visit a Physicians Care Express location in Belpre or Marietta. During periods of high patient volume, conditions that are not life threatening — such as ear infections, urinary tract infections, or mild respiratory illnesses — are often treated more quickly in provider clinics or urgent care locations than in emergency departments.

Patients experiencing emergency symptoms — including trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, severe or persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, confusion, or a fever that does not improve with medication — should seek care at the nearest emergency department.

Memorial Health System follows the standard practice of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition, not arrival time. Patients with life-threatening or urgent medical needs are seen first, while those who are stable or need limited resources may experience longer wait times.