n VISITORS remain banned from the Royal Bolton Hospital as staff try to stop the spread of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Two wards are closed to new admissions and a number of bays on other wards are also closed to new admissions.

On Friday, the hospital banned visitors from the hospital, apart from exceptional circumstances.

It follows visiting restrictions, which had been in place since before Christmas, and limited visitors to two per bed and completely banned children. The situation is being reviewed daily.

Heather Edwards, head of communications at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said the restrictions were a “precaution” and were being enforced to stop the spread of the winter vomiting bug, which has caused a high number of cases in the community.

Norovirus is highly infectious and hard to contain once it enters locations where there are a number of people, such as schools, hospitals and care homes.