(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

MARIETTA — As flu, COVID and other respiratory illnesses increase, Memorial Health System is advising people to take preventive measures, prioritize rest at home or seek medical attention elsewhere before heading to an emergency department.

“When needed, seeking care through a primary care provider or at a Physicians Care Express location can help ensure timely treatment and help keep emergency departments available for those in urgent, life-saving situations,” according to a release from the Health System.

The Memorial release said prevention is the first line of defense against respiratory illness. This includes washing hands frequently with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask in public to help protect others and staying home when sick.

For individuals who do feel unwell, treatment and timely care, in the right setting, is important, the release said. Rest and hydration at home are key, it said.

Emergency care should be sought for respiratory illnesses if people experience the following:

* Difficulty breathing.

* Confusion or disorientation.

* A persistent high fever lasting more than three days, spiking a fever of more than 103 or accompanied by confusion or a rash.

In Parkersburg, “we have seen an increase in respiratory illnesses over the past four to five weeks which necessitated a change in our hospital visitation guidelines and those continue to be in place,” said Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Carol Grove, DNPm RN, NEA-BC. “One of the easiest and most important things to do during the flu season is to maintain good hand hygiene and to be in contact with your family provider if you are having flu-like symptoms. It’s important to limit your exposure to others if you’re not feeling well, and you can always wear a mask for preventative measures. Of course, getting a flu shot is another great way to protect yourself. Our urgent care and rapid care facilities are also open every day for both adults and kids and if you have a life threatening situation, call 911 and come to the Emergency Department.”

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Visitation Restrictions include:

* Limiting visitors to two per patient

* Visitors may be screened for flu-like symptoms or exposure

* Visitors who are ill may not visit unless granted permission for compassionate reasons such as end of life care, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

* Visitors are limited to 12 years old and above unless granted permission for compassionate reasons (younger people have a greater chance of exposure at school etc. and a greater risk of spreading viruses)

* Visitors will be given instructions on hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

* Visitors of patients with influenza should not be present during aerosol-generating procedures

Masks will be offered to patients and encouraged but not mandatory. Staff who are not vaccinated for influenza should be masking.

Infection control will monitor the status of the influenza admissions and notification will be sent out when restrictions have been lifted.