INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indianapolis hospitals have put temporary visitor restrictions in place to try to protect patients from the flu virus.

The Marion County Public Health Department announced Friday that starting Monday all major health systems in the county are restricting visitors to immediate family members over age 18. They also are asking visitors with fever or coughs to stay home.

Health Department Director Virginia Caine says the restrictions are necessary to help protect patients, visitors and hospital staff from exposure to the flu virus.

For the week ending Dec. 6, Marion County reported 2.7 percent of all hospital emergency department visits countywide, or 291 total visits, with the chief complaint of influenza-like illness. This is compared to 1 percent of emergency department visits during the same week in 2013.