New rules for Sturgis Hospital visitors

Sturgis Hospital officials have announced new rules for visiting the hospital during the flu season.
Influenza season guidelines are: Hospital visitors must be 18 years or older; visitors to the obstetric unit must be immediate family. Siblings under age 18 visiting a newborn may be screened for fever; one visitor per patient is allowed in the emergency department; and patients with flu symptoms are asked to use a mask to cover their nose and mouth while at the hospital.
In addition, all visitors and patients are reminded to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouth when they cough and sneeze.
The new restrictions are common in hospitals during the flu season, which is expected to continue through April.