Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville is implementing visitation restrictions immediately to protect patients from flu and other infectious diseases, a release from the health organization cited Friday.

The guidelines are listed below:

• Visitation is limited to healthy adults

• Please do not visit if you are sick, have a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain

• For protection of children and patients, it is highly recommended children not be brought into any Centra facility unless medical attention is needed

• Please no more than two visitors at a time per patient.

“These restrictions aim to protect patients and halt the spread of influenza and other infectious diseases,” the release cited. “Centra will lift this temporary restriction once the flu season has declined.” Centra is among other area health care facilities and hospitals adopting similar visitation restrictions, the release cited.

Gayle Sutton, RN BSN CIC at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, when asked whether there has been an increase in flu cases in the past few months, said “Yes we have seen an increase in January and February, Type A Flu and mostly in children.”

In a statement, she continued, “Historically, we have seen a later flu season the last two years. No flu related deaths in Virginia; but some have occurred in North Carolina. VCU Health CMH has posted signs restricting visitation under the age of 18 as a precautionary measure and to remind the public not to visit if sick with cold like symptoms. People are still being urged to get their flu vaccination but again the single most important fight against the flu or any infection is good hand washing/hygiene.”