OTTAWA – OSF Health Care’s St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa is limiting patient visits, effective immediately. The recommendation stems from the Illinois Department of Public Health in response to state influenza activity level, which is currently widespread. OSF St. Elizabeth is restricting visitors to only those over the age of 18 years. The medical center believes this will minimize exposure of patients to children, who are known to be high risk fro transmission of viral infections. They advise against visiting hospitalized patients if you are not feeling well or have had flu like symptoms within the past seven days.