Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

CarolinaEast Medical Center limits patient visits because of increase in respiratory illnesses

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published January 5, 2026 at 6:44 AM EST
Beginning Monday, CarolinaEast Medical Center will allow only two people at a time to visit patients.
CarolinaEast Medical Center
Beginning Monday, CarolinaEast Medical Center will allow only two people at a time to visit patients.

Beginning Monday, CarolinaEast Medical Center will allow only two people at a time to visit patients.

Hospital officials said both visitors must be at least 12 years old and visits can only take place during visiting hours.

The hospital says the tighter rules are in response to a rise in respiratory illnesses and more hospitalizations, and are meant to help curb the spread of the virus.
Annette Weston
Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston