KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the number of flu cases on the rise, local hospitals are asking sick people to stay home.
Liberty Hospital has implemented an age restriction. Children 14 years old and younger are not allowed on any inpatient area, including The Birthing Center, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), nursery and intensive care unit.
The ban includes siblings of infants.
All guests who visit the units will be scanned for illness.
KU Medical Center and St. Luke's Health System are following a similar protocol.
St. Luke's is not allowing visitors under the age of 13 on the maternity unity, except for symptom-free children.
In the NICU at St. Luke's, visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed, including siblings, even if they're healthy.
At KU Medical Center, visitors under the age of 12 also are not able to visit the neonatal service patients.
According to the CDC, Kansas is listed as high risk for the flu.
Missouri is listed as low risk.
More than 2,100 people have died from the flu this year.
