Norovirus: Manchester hospital wards stay closed

Visiting restrictions will remain in place at North Manchester General Hospital after an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.

The hospital temporarily closed every ward to visitors on 20 December.

The Pennine Acute Trust said five wards would remain closed until at least Saturday, to try to contain the highly contagious virus.

Visiting is restricted to 30 minutes with no more than two visitors per patient, the trust said.

Members of the public who need to visit the seriously ill should call ahead to the ward to arrange visiting.

The norovirus bug - which causes vomiting, stomach cramps, fever and diarrhoea - is easily spread from person to person.

Symptoms usually begin between 12 to 48 hours after a person becomes infected, with most healthy people making a recovery within one to three days.