UP Health System Portage Closes Some Areas to Children

Due to high occurrences of illness to children in the area, the UP Health System Portage Family Birthing Center and PortagePointe will be temporarily closed to visiting children, including siblings. Officials say the change in visitation is effective immediately and is being put in place to protect the health of newborns and elders. It will apply for children under the age of 18, and anybody experiencing any respiratory illness symptoms. They add that healthy adults are still allowed to enter the birthing center and PortagePointe during regular visiting hours, but until Portage officials feel the number of local illnesses is significantly lowered, children will not be allowed to enter.