San Jose, CA – (October 27, 2009) – Due to the growing numbers of local H1N1 flu cases, effective Wednesday, October 28 at 8 am, O’Connor Hospital in San Jose will be restricting the age and number of visitors, and the number of access points into the hospital.

As a precautionary measure, children under 16 years of age who are not seeking medical care are restricted from entering the hospital, and only two healthy visitors at a time are permitted into patient areas. Additionally, secondary entrances into the hospital will be shut down, with four main entrances remaining open including the Main Lobby entrance; Emergency Department; and two entrances on the west side of the campus near the parking structure. Download the Open Entrance Map here.

"Our primary concern is the health and well-being of our patients and staff," said James F. Dover, president and chief executive officer at O’Connor. "We have initiated this temporary restriction to protect our patients and staff from exposure to the flu."

The policy change will be in effect until further notice. The policy follows the recent declaration of President Obama that H1N1 swine flu is a national public health emergency. A growing number of hospitals locally and nationally that are implementing similar restrictions to manage the risks of exposure in a serious manner and reduce the spread of this rapidly growing pandemic.