Further visiting restrictions enforced to prevent the spread of Norovirus
Further visiting restrictions have today been introduced in order to prevent further outbreaks of the winter stomach bug at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
In addition to Elsing Ward the virus has been brought onto both Dunston and Hethel Wards in recent days and as a result visiting these wards is now restricted to:
- No children under 16
- Immediate family members only
Dunston is also restricting their visiting hours to 2pm to 4pm only.
Matron Sian Watkins said: “We are still getting visitors coming to all wards who are actually suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, they are still contagious and this virus does spread very easily. We do not want to stop visitors coming in altogether to see their relatives as we feel it plays an important role of patient care. However, if the spread of the virus continues we will have no option to do this. Therefore we would strongly urge that no-one should visit hospital if they have the stomach bug or have been in contact with someone who's had the bug in the previous three days. ”
In addition, everyone coming on to a hospital ward should wash their hands with hot, soapy water when entering and leaving the ward.
The Norovirus infection, also known as gastroenteritis or the winter vomiting virus, affects up to one million people in the
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