Hospital officials in Savannah are restricting visitation because of a rise in the number of flu cases in the area.

St. Joseph's Hospital and Candler Hospital are restricting visitors under the age of 18 in The Children's Place pediatric department, the Special Care Nursery and the Telfair Birthplace unless they are listed as a primary caretaker.

Hospital officials say only children who need medical treatment should visit the facilities.

In mid-December, the Georgia Health Sciences Health System implemented a similar restriction and asked children under the age of 17 to refrain from visiting its facilities.

Tags: hospital, health, Savannah, flu, Flu Season, hospital visitation