Children 12 years old or younger will not be allowed to visit patients at Greenville, S.C.-based James and Connie Maynard Children's Hospital beginning Dec. 4, according to WITN News.
Greenville-based Vidant Health, which owns the children's hospital, issued the restrictions due to an increase in respiratory syncytial virus cases.
"As the holiday seasons approach, it is also the beginning of respiratory virus season. This includes not only viruses such as influenza A and B, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the common cold, among others," according to a statement issued by the hospital obtained by Reflector.com.
Hospital officials said the restrictions are temporary and will be lifted when the number of viral respiratory illnesses in the community decreases.
However, healthy children visiting healthy newborns who live in the same household will be permitted to visit the facility, WITN News reports.