We're past the season for happy, jolly and nice; now it's time to batten down the hatches and protect ourselves against the onslaught of the flu virus. There's no better sign of just how widespread a cough, a sneeze and a running nose impacts the community than seeing area hospitals crack down on visiting hours.

It's not the first time Akron/Canton-area hospitals, all members of the Akron Regional Hospital Association, agree on tightening regulations governing visits to patients. The hospital environment is challenging enough in the war against infection to allow the additional spread of cold and flu season viruses to those already battling other ailments.

The restrictions cover nearly every hospital in the Akron area; Akron Children's Hospital is developing similar restrictions with a special nod to their younger patients.

(ARHA news release) Due to increased influenza activity in the community the following ARHA hospitals are restricting visitation in order to provide additional protection to patients. Hospitals frequently enact visitation restrictions each year during influenza season.

These hospitals include: Affinity Medical Center, Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute, Akron General Medical Center, Akron General Lodi Community Hospital, Alliance Community Hospital*, Aultman Hospital, Aultman Acute Care Specialty Hospital, Medina Hospital (a Cleveland Clinic Hospital), Mercy Medical Center, Regency Barberton Hospital, Regency Ravenna Hospital, Robinson Memorial Hospital, Select Specialty Akron Hospital, Select Specialty Canton Hospital, Summa Akron City Hospital, Summa Barberton Hospital, Summa Rehab Hospital, Summa St. Thomas Hospital, Summa Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital and Summa Western Reserve Hospital.