PONTIAC -- More Central Illinoisans have been diagnosed with the novel H1N1 influenza virus as Pontiac's hospital joined the ranks of medical centers restricting visitors to try to limit the spread of H1N1, health officials announced Wednesday.

MaLinda Hillman, Livingston County Health Department director, said two people in Livingston County have been confirmed as having H1N1 but there may be more people with the virus. Tests to confirm H1N1 are done only on people who have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.

Walt Howe, director of the McLean County Health Department, said that county has its 26th confirmed H1N1 patient -- a female who was hospitalized. No further information was available on the patient.

Both health departments are monitoring school absentees. While there has been an increase, numbers haven't been high enough to warrant school closures.

Howe has said confirmed cases represent a small portion of people who have had H1N1.

Meanwhile, OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac announced that visitor access to several areas of the hospital will be limited until further notice because of the increasing number of people with H1N1.

Under the new rules:

-- Visitors younger than 12 years old will need permission of hospital staff to visit the inpatient units of medical/surgical/skilled care, the intensive care unit and the ambulatory care unit.

-- Visitors younger than 18 years old will not be allowed in the obstetrics unit without hospital staff permission.

-- Visitors experiencing flu-like symptoms are encouraged not to come to the hospital.

-- Patients with flu-like symptoms who come to the hospital, its emergency department or adjoining physicians' offices or PromptCare will be given masks and hand sanitizer.

Hospitals in Streator, Gibson City, Pekin and Peoria have limited visits by children.

BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and Eureka Community Hospital in Eureka issued a joint statement Monday urging potential visitors to consider whether their visit is necessary for a patient's emotional well-being. If not, stay home, the hospitals said.

H1N1 flu shot clinics

Livingston County Health Department announced more H1N1 flu shot clinics at the health department, 310 E. Torrance Ave., Pontiac. They will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7, and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18.