Phoenix Children's Hospital began respiratory virus visitor restrictions Monday. Each year hospitals use visitor restrictions when respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) become more common.
Because young children are much more likely to spread respiratory viruses, children under 12 are not permitted to visit patients until further notice.
Visitor restrictions apply to all hospital patient care areas, except for the emergency department and diagnostic testing areas like radiology.
Patients under 12 who require diagnostic testing must check in at the front desk and go directly to the department. They are not permitted to go to the cafeteria, gift shop, or Emily Center health library.
Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center are starting restrictions Wednesday.
Banner hospitals - such as Banner Gateway, Banner Desert and Cardon Children's Hospital - had not yet put restrictions in place as of Tuesday, officials said.
