Visitation guidelines take effect Monday at several regional hospitals to protect patients from influenza and other infectious diseases after a warning by the New York state Department of Health about the prevalence of the flu.
According to Albany Medical Center, hospitals implementing restrictions include Albany Med, Columbia Memorial Hospital and Saratoga Hospital.
Albany Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital (Troy), St. Peter's Hospital, and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital already have the restrictions in place:
• A maximum of two visitors in a patient's room at any one time.
• Children 12 and under being prohibited from visiting patients' rooms.
• Visitors with rash, diarrhea or respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath
being prohibited from visiting patients.
The hospitals also are urging all visitors to use hand-washing stations before entering and upon leaving a patient's room.