Rome Memorial Hospital is instituting temporary age restrictions on visitors to protect patients as a result of a significant increase in the number of patients seeking treatment for respiratory symptoms.

According to officials, 46 adult and pediatric patients went to the Emergency Room over the weekend with respiratory symptoms, compared to 23 for the same period last year.

Children under the age of 16 will be prohibited from visiting inpatient units and the hospital's Residential Health Care Facility.

The Hospital has sent out specimens for testing to determine if the cause is a result of the rare Enterovirus D68 that has sickened children in more than a dozen states.

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