New visitation restrictions went into effect at Orange Regional Medical Center Thursday, limiting access of people under the age of 18 in an effort to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Hospital spokesman Rob Lee says widespread flu concerns and stricter recommendations from the Centers for the Disease Control have led to the revision of the visitation policy on the Middletown and Goshen campuses.

Visitors who are allowed to come in are being urged to sanitize their hands before and after leaving a patient's room.

The new visitation rules will last through flu season. Hospital management says exceptions will be considered on an individual basis.