Novant Health lifts visitor restrictions for children under 13

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (WWAY) — Novant Health will lift temporary visitor restrictions for children under age 13 at its North Carolina hospitals beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

The restrictions were originally put in place Dec. 30, 2025, due to increased respiratory virus activity.

Novant Health officials said declining respiratory virus levels and improved hospital capacity allowed the health system to safely remove the restrictions.

“We continuously monitor respiratory virus levels and hospital capacity, and we’ve seen a meaningful decline in activity across our communities, allowing us to safely lift these temporary visitor restrictions,” said Dr. David Priest, senior vice president and chief safety and quality officer at Novant Health. “Reaching this point shows how seriously our communities have taken the responsibility to slow the spread.”

Novant Health continues to encourage precautions to help limit the spread of respiratory viruses, including staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes.

Health officials also recommend vaccination against the flu, RSV for eligible children and seniors, and COVID-19.

For those experiencing flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever or fatigue, Novant Health advises seeking care through primary care or pediatric clinics, urgent care centers or virtual visits, depending on the severity of symptoms.