As It Fights Flu, CentraState Says No Visitors Under 14

FREEHOLD, NJ — The best precaution against the flu this season is to stay away from people who are sick.

CentraState Medical Center announced Thursday they will not let visitors under 14 into the hospital. Children are the most common carriers of cold and flu virus.

"With this year’s flu season being very active, we are restricting patient visitors to those age 14 and older unless, there has been permission given by the nurse manager of the patient’s floor," CentraState announced. "For those over age 14, we ask that you not visit hospital patients if you are exhibiting any signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness such as fever, cough, chills, body aches, sore throat or runny nose."

CentraState has seen a 175 percent spike in flu cases this winter: Last January, CentraState treated 70 people for the flu, and admitted eight. This January, they treated 193 people and admitted twelve, the hospital said.

Many hospitals across New Jersey and the country have already barred visitors under 14: In January, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center stopped allowing visitors under 14, and in New Jersey, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City and Shore Medical Center both restricted visitors under 14 in their Galloway Township and Somers Point locations.