New visitor restrictions at Albany Medical Center

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany Medical Center is putting temporary visitor restrictions in place beginning January 6. The medical center said this is due to seasonal respiratory viruses that are currently circulating.

Several restrictions are being instituted starting on Monday. They are as follows:

• You may not visit if you have any respiratory or flu-like symptoms
• There are only two visitors allowed in a patient's room
• Those under 12 years old may not visit
• Visitors must use the B2 entrance
• Visiting hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Visitors should wash their hands before going in and when leaving a patient's room as well as use the hand sanitizer placed throughout the hospital
• Those who want to visit a patient on enhanced droplet and contact precautions must see a nurse about PPE before going into the patient's room
• Pediatric patients and patients with special needs can have one overnight visitor at their bedside
• Patients who are admitted outside of visiting hours can have two visitors for 15 minutes
• Labor and delivery patients can have two visitors by their bedside and a doula if requested
• Clergy members can visit at any time with the patient's permission
• The medical center can make some exceptions for extenuating circumstances such as end-of-life

These restrictions are meant to reduce the risk of virus and illness transmission to protect the health and safety of the patients and professionals who provide care, per Albany Medical Center.