By Pat Minelli, Staff Writer

On Monday, St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee and 10 other Allina Hospitals will be implementing even tighter visiting hours than were put in place Oct. 21 to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

The latest restrictions involve all units in the hospital, not just birth and pediatric units included in the previous announcement.

General visiting hours will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at all sites. However, birth centers and pediatric departments will continue to observe visiting hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to visit, with the exception of family members ages 5-11. No one under the age of 5 will be allowed to visit.

Also, visitors to pediatric and birth departments will be asked to sign in and complete a “wellness screening” prior to visiting patients. Those who exhibit flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to visit patients.