Visiting is still suspended at the Royal United Hospital in Bath in a bid to contain a norovirus outbreak.

People are being asked only to visit in exceptional circumstances, because of the highly contagious viral infection that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. The visiting restrictions apply to all wards except for maternity.

And two wards remain closed today – the ACE (Older Persons’ Unit) and Haygarth (Gastroenterology), with patients already on the wards continuing to receive full treatment, but no new admissions accepted.

A spokeswoman for the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust said: “The situation is under daily review and we will notify the public as soon as visiting restrictions are lifted.

“We thank the public for their cooperation and understanding throughout this period.”

The Trust first sent out an outbreak warning last Friday, February 13, when initially five wards were closed. They said “mainly patients, but some visitors and staff” had been affected, but would not give any idea as to how many.

Helen Blanchard, director of nursing and midwifery at the RUH, said: "We are asking families and friends to visit the hospital only if absolutely necessary, for example if a relative is terminally ill or critically ill, or on other compassionate grounds.

"If a visit is vital, then we ask that relatives contact the ward in advance to confirm that this is appropriate. This is a precautionary measure and good infection control practice to protect patients and to control the spread of illness. I hope that families and friends will understand that we need to protect our vulnerable patients.”

The Trust is asking people with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting not to present themselves at the emergency department, but instead to contact their primary care GP or out of hours service for initial advice and direction.