JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Local hospitals are seeing more flu symptoms from people who are testing positive for H1N1. Now they're being proactive in trying to stop the spread of the virus.

When Priscilla Wynn and her daughter Alexis left the hospital Thursday, Priscilla said she was happy with what she saw.

"The lady that just treated her had on a mask," Priscilla said. "And she sprayed Lysol, so that kind of protected -- I felt like she was trying to protect us."

That's exactly what a lot of area hospitals are trying to do, protect you and your family from getting the H1N1 virus.

So far in there have been 550 H1N1 deaths in the U.S., 70 of which were in Florida, including five in Duval County.

Dr. Joseph Sabato, a disaster medical officer at Shands at the University of Florida, said in the last few months, his hospital has seen hundreds of people test positive for the swine flu.

"It, so far, hasn't been any more dangerous than the seasonal flu," Sabato said.

Still, area hospitals aren't taking any chances.

At Shands, Wolfson and Baptist hospitals, people experiencing flu-like symptoms aren't getting visitation privileges.

Children under the age of 5 can't make visits or enter any patient rooms at all.

At Nemours, all associates are being asked to either wear masks or get vaccinated during flu season.

Sabato said ever since April, Shands has stocked up on more masks, gloves and foaming hand sanitizer, making sure staff members are aware of the supplies and using them on a regular basis.

Sabato said when it comes to testing for H1N1, his hospital is only focusing on high-risk groups: pregnant women, children younger than 5, people younger than 19 taking aspirin, people with asthma and those who suffer from immune diseases.

For mothers like Wynn, seeing the extra precautions makes her feel a lot more comfortable.

"It makes me feel good that they're finally stepping up," Wynn said.