VISITORS are still banned from the Royal Bolton Hospital as staff try to prevent an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Two wards and a number of bays are closed to new admissions at the hospital after cases of patients with the bug were detected.

Patients in “exceptional circumstances” can receive visitors but this must first be agreed with senior ward staff.

There have been visiting restrictions in force since before Christmas, banning children and limiting adults to two per bed. The ban was extended to all visitors on Friday, January 18.

Hospital bosses say the ban is a precautionary measure to stop the spread of norovirus from the community to the hospital, but that it will be reviewed each day.