Jersey hospital wards reopen after norovirus outbreak

Wards at Jersey's General Hospital have reopened after being closed due to an outbreak of norovirus.

Some beds on Corbiere Ward remained closed earlier but all others at the hospital were completely open.

This followed a deep-cleaning process known as "fogging", which uses hydrogen peroxide vapour.

Dr Susan Turnbull, Jersey's chief medical officer of health, said the outbreak had most likely been caused by infected visitors vomiting in the ward.

She said anyone with symptoms of norovirus, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, should not visit any healthcare buildings.

'Old hospital'

Anyone concerned they may have the virus was asked to telephone their GP for advice, rather than calling in person.

Dr Turnbull said there had been no recorded cases for three days.

The peak of the outbreak was on Thursday, when 56 beds were closed.

Dr Turnbull explained this did not mean as many as 56 cases had been recorded.

"Because we have an old hospital, with six-bedded bays, if one person has norovirus, you have to close six beds," she said.