As the flu in Maine becomes more widespread, Central Maine Healthcare has put visitor restrictions in place at all three of its hospitals.

The new rules strongly discourage visitors under the age of 12, and asks all visitors who feel unwell, have a fever or a cough not to visit Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton or Rumford Hospitals.

“The flu is now widespread in our community,” said Joanne Kenny-Lynch, CMH System Director for Infection Control. “For the health of our patients and staff, we are asking anyone who feels sick or has symptoms not to visit our hospitals.”

If children must visit, they must remain in the patient’s room and limit visitation time, Kenny-Lynch said.

This year’s flu epidemic in Maine has seen well more than 2,000 patients testing positive for the virus, according to the state Center for Disease Control.

Providers say that the best defense against the flu is to get a vaccination, and it is not too late to receive one. While vaccines don’t prevent every case of flu, they can make the symptoms milder. Symptoms of flu include body ache, fever and coughing.