P.E.I.'s largest hospital says it believes a gastro-intestinal illness that closed a unit to visitors this week has mostly run its course.

Only one patient in Unit 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown remained ill as of Friday.

At the height of the illness, 12 patients were suffering from symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Rick Adams, the hospital's executive director, said immediate family will be permitted to visit patients in the unit beginning Saturday.

He said the hospital will reassess the situation Monday before making a decision on whether to reopen the unit to all visitors.