Flu cases up at local hospitals

Central Coast hospitals are seeing an increase in flu cases this season.

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula has treated more patients with flu symptoms than last season, according to spokesperson Brenda Moore. It’s the same story at Dominican in Santa Cruz, according to hospital spokesperson Claire Barton.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control announced a nationwide increase in flu cases.

At CHOMP, the hospital is “adding protections for its patients, staff, and visitors, and strongly recommends that community members also take precautions,” the hospital’s website said.

Access to Community Hospital’s Family Birth Center has also been limited to those without cold and flu symptoms. Access to the Family Birth Center’s nursery has been further limited to only those over the age of 15, according to the website.

The hospital said the limitations are in place to protect the delicate immune systems of the newborns as well as their mothers.

Watch KION 5/46 tonight at 5 o’clock for more on this story.