ESCANABA — OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group announced that as of Dec. 31, all hospital employees, patients and visitors must wear masks in its facilities. OSF said masks are now required when visiting the hospital due to “the widespread respiratory illnesses in our communities, including COVID-19, influenza and RSV.”

OSF is also enacting a temporary visitor restriction to only two 18 or older visitors per patient at a time. “Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe,” OSF said.