COLUMBUS, Ohio — A majority of Ohio’s hospitals have restricted patient visitation due to the surging spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The list of hospitals transitioning to visitor restrictions as of Wednesday now includes the three major central Ohio adult hospitals: Ohio Health, Ohio State Wexner, and Mount Carmel.

But hospitals all over the state have suspended visitation: Mercy Health Youngstown, Summa Health Akron, Mercy Medical Canton, Aultman Hospital, Mercy St. Rita's Lima, and Lima Memorial Hospital. Other hospitals have maintained some restrictions since the pandemic began.

The Ohio Hospital Association said visitor restrictions are now the norm in Ohio.

“We’re seeing a majority of Ohio hospitals transition to visitor restrictions in light of the escalating pandemic,” spokesperson John Palmer said.

The hospitals hoped to avoid such a move, which can have negative effects on patient well-being.

“Any decision to restrict in-person visitation is difficult,” the association said. “As the pandemic condition improves in the community, such restrictions will be less stringent."

For the central Ohio hospitals, exceptions to the policy are carved out for maternity, end-of-life, patients with impairments, and patients who are minors. Exact policies for exceptions vary by hospital.

In June, Ohio hospitals lifted visitor restrictions as the state scaled back health orders and reopened sectors of the economy. When visitation resumed, Ohio State said that isolating patients from their family members had gone “against all of our instincts as clinicians."

Mercy Health suspended all visitation at three hospitals in the Mahoning Valley beginning last Saturday at 8 a.m. Mothers in labor are permitted one support person.

Officials said they recognize that interactions with family and friends can be helpful for recovering patients. The hospital strongly encourages family to utilize other forms of support for their loved one, such as phone and video calls.

Ohio has never issued any rules that prohibited visitation; rather, hospitals were given discretion to set their own visitation polices.