Which metro-east hospitals have visitor, other restrictions amid high flu levels?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hospitals in southwest Illinois face increased admissions from respiratory illnesses.
- Some hospitals have imposed restrictions on the number, age of visitors.
- Health officials urge vaccination, hand hygiene and staying home when sick.
An increase in respiratory infections, especially influenza, has led to rising hospitalization rates and stricter visitor guidelines at some metro-east hospitals.
Illinois is seeing high flu activity and moderate respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and COVID, according to the state department of public health. The state’s flu activity was considered “very high” the week of Jan. 8, and one pediatric flu death has been reported this season in Illinois.
Statewide, COVID cases made up 2.04% of hospital admissions for the week ending Jan. 3, while 5.95% were due to flu and RSV caused 0.67%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Hospital admissions for all three respiratory viruses are increasing.
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, part of HSHS, is seeing more patients with flu-like symptoms, RSV and rhinovirus than earlier in 2025, Chris Klay, CEO of HSHS’ Southern Illinois market, said Wednesday.
“We have seen consistently high clinical volumes, really in all of our emergency departments, and then that does correlate to a higher-than-normal inpatient census,” Klay said.
HSHS’ Southern Illinois hospitals, including St. Elizabeth’s, St. Joseph’s in Breese, St. Joseph’s in Highland and Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, are operating at capacity but managing, Klay said.
HSHS Illinois hospitals have implemented stricter guidelines for visitors during the surge in respiratory virus admissions, including a two-person visitor limit for each patient at any given time, as well as an 18-year age minimum for visitors.
Those with a cold or flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, sore throat, body or muscle aches, headache, cough or runny nose should not visit patients, the guidelines say, and visitors should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving patient rooms.
Memorial hospitals in Belleville and in Shiloh are also seeing an increase in flu cases, Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Journagan confirmed Wednesday. Norovirus cases have also increased at the two locations.
“Our units are getting full, but we have not reached a crisis point,” Journagan said. “At this point, we’re still able to meet the needs of the patients that are coming into the [emergency department] and needing to be admitted.”
The seasonal increase in respiratory cases at Memorial hospitals seems similar to other recent years, Journagan added. Visitors at Memorial hospitals are encouraged to follow the general visiting precautions, such as hand-washing and avoiding visits when sick, but there are no new restrictions at this time.
Peak respiratory virus season tends to be around January to February, Journagan said, and the situation typically improves as spring approaches.
Anderson Hospital in Maryville is at a “Level 2 Alert status” for acute respiratory illness, as more than 20% of tests performed at its emergency department and Express Care locations are positive for at least one of the viruses. For Dec. 21, 29.6% of the emergency department’s tests were positive for flu, COVID or RSV, while the number was 20.8% for Dec. 28 and 27.8% for Jan. 4.
“December and January are historically high census months due to flu season and increased community gatherings during the holidays. This year’s activity does not appear abnormal. Last year, we experienced similar periods of fluctuating peak and off-peak census,” Anderson Healthcare spokesperson Natalie Head wrote in an email to the News-Democrat.
Anderson Hospital is not operating at peak census, or 90% staffed hospital bed capacity, at this time, but has been on- and off-peak census since mid-December.
Another local hospital, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, reported similarly high admissions for influenza and other respiratory viruses, and is implementing stricter visitor guidelines as a result.
“OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is currently not experiencing any access issues and is fully staffed ready to serve the Riverbend region with the greatest care and love. The patient volumes that we’re seeing right now are very similar to this same time last year,” Lisa Schepers, interim hospital president, wrote the BND in a Jan. 14 emailed statement.
“Overall, we’re seeing patients who are diagnosed with either influenza, COVID and RSV, but more specifically, we’re seeing more influenza cases than COVID or RSV. Since Monday, December 29, 2025, all patient-facing Mission Partners (i.e. employees) have been wearing masks when at work and providing patient care, regardless of vaccination status, except when eating or drinking. Also, masking has been implemented for non-patient-facing Mission Partners in areas with limited space for physical distancing,” Schepers continued.
Patients and visitors are also being offered masks at the facility, and visitors have been limited to two per patient with some age restrictions, she wrote.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we’re limiting visits to patients in isolation for influenza-like illness to those necessary for the patient’s emotional well-being and medical care only — while allowing exceptions for end-of-life or other extreme circumstances,” Schepers wrote.
How to protect yourself from respiratory viruses
In addition to hand-washing, getting vaccinated against respiratory viruses is key, Journagan said.
“When someone’s ill, try to stay home, and then obviously vaccination, especially with influenza, is very effective,” Journagan added.
The St. Clair County Health Department offers updated COVID vaccines, as well as shots to protect against flu and RSV.
Those eligible and looking for retail pharmacies can make an appointment online at CVS or Walgreens. You may also be able to request a vaccine at your annual doctor’s appointment if you have a primary care physician.
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