Norovirus scare: Hospital wards to re-open
Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 3 Feb 2012 11:30
THE Royal Berkshire Hospital is poised to re-open three wards to new admissions after containing the spread of an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Staff closed the wards to new patients for a minimum of 72 hours when the outbreak struck earlier this week, but one will fully re-open on Sunday with the remaining two on Monday.
A hospital bay, in which a patient also contracted the illness, will reopen this afternoon.
Hospital spokesman Joe Wise warned anyone who has suffered sickness and diarrhoea to wait at least 48 hours until their symptoms have cleared before visiting friends and family in the hospital. He added: "Thankfully it is only a small number of people who have been affected and we are anxious to take all possible steps to ensure its effects are minimised."
Staff also warn people to prevent the spread of infection by washing their hands with soap and water before preparing food and after visiting the toilet.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Feb 12
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