Springfield's major hospitals aren't turning patients away, but they've released recommendations for visitors in the wake of increasing flu cases.
St. John's spokeswoman Erica Smith says patients are restricted to two visitors at a time, unless they're family, and those with flu-like symptoms should stay away -- unless they're going for medical attention.
"If the visit is necessary, we do have masks at all entrances and we ask that they must be worn," says Smith.
Memorial's Chief Medical Officer, Raj Govindaiah, says visitors are limited to two at a time -- family or not.
"Let's face it, the people that get the most ill from influenza, where do they end up? They end up in the hospital," he says.
Govindaiah says visitors younger than 18 are also discouraged from visiting as young people are more susceptible to the flu. All of Memorial's youth-based programs have been canceled for the rest of the month.
(posted 6:39 p.m. 01/16/2013 by Alex Degman)