NHS bosses have banned almost all visitors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a rise in Covid-19 admissions.
It comes after Gateshead was placed on the Government watchlist due to a spike in coronavirus cases.
The town joins Newcastle, Sunderland and South Tyneside on the list. With 55 cases for every 100,000 residents, it currently has one of the highest infection rates in England.
As such, the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust - which operates the hospital - said suspending the majority of inpatient visits was a "difficult but important decision".
Visits to care homes have already been stopped, as officials do all they can to keep the virus away from those most at risk.
Similar steps have already been taken in South Tyneside and Sunderland, the latter being the second most infected area in England.
Only a limited number of visitors will be allowed at the Queen Elizabeth. They include birthing partners, children's parents and those visiting mental health patients or people receiving end-of-life care.
There have been repeated warnings over the last week for the town to unite in trying to bring down the sky-hate rate, before restrictions have to be imposed.
And perhaps the most blunt and direct message was from the leader of Gateshead Council, Martin Gannon, who has warned businesses who don't comply will be shut down.
And he added: "If there is a second lockdown the economic consequences would be unimaginable."
