Jacksonville, Florida, January 25, 2010 – Because the number of H1N1 cases has significantly decreased in our community and nationwide, all four Baptist Health adult hospitals and Wolfson Children's Hospital have implemented new visitation policies.

Effective January 22, 2010, all Baptist Health adult hospitals have lifted H1N1 visitation restrictions and visitation policies will return to pre-H1N1 status; there will be no restriction on patient visitation by anyone who is free from flu-like symptoms.

Because H1N1 and seasonal flu are more likely to occur among children, and because children can be infectious for longer periods of time, Wolfson Children's Hospital has implemented a less-restrictive visitation policy than it had during the height of the H1N1 pandemic.

Effective January 22, 2010, until the end of flu season, Wolfson Children's Hospital is allowing children age 6 and older, along with adults, to visit patients in the hospital, as long as the visitor has no flu-like symptoms. Although the precise date for the end of flu season cannot be determined at this time, it typically ends around March 31. This policy doesn't apply to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Hematology/Oncology, where visitation is limited to immediate family members over age 18.

During flu season, Baptist Health continues to advise anyone with flu-like symptoms to refrain from visitation in any of its hospitals. Symptoms include fever of 100º F or higher and cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, fatigue, and/or stomach upset.

"Our number-one concern remains the health and safety of our patients and caregivers," says Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Jerry Bridgham, MD.