"We have to put the safety of the patients first and the safety of those who will be visiting a facility that has a growing number of patients with the flu," said Dr. Don Denmark, NorthBay HealthCare vice president of medical affairs, in a press release.

The hospitals will do everything possible to deal with extraordinary situations, he said.

"We know in some cases, a visit will be warranted," he said.

NorthBay's decision comes after the death of a 6-year-old Vacaville girl at the VacaValley Hospital emergency room a week ago. She came to the hospital with flu-like symptoms and tested positive for H1N1.

Many other hospitals across the nation have also restricted children from visiting patients. NorthBay spokeswoman Diane Barney mentioned Stanford Medical Center as an example.

Solano County's other hospitals -- Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo and Vacaville and Sutter-Solano Medical Center in Vallejo -- have yet to restrict child visitors, though they have some policies of their own.

"We are encouraging people not to come to the hospital (to visit) if they're sick, if they have a fever, sore throat, flu-symptoms," Kaiser spokesman Jim Caroompas said.

Sutter-Solano Medical Center has signs asking people who are ill not to visit patients.

"If we do see someone who is like this, we approach them and give them the appropriate advice," Sutter-Solano spokesman Sy Neilson said. "If there's a reason they need to visit, if there's an exception, we do insist they wear proper protective equipment."

The hospital will monitor the situation to see if it needs to change its visitation policy, he said.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, ext. 232, or beberling@dailyrepublic.net.