FRIENDS AND RELATIVES of patients at Beaumont Hospital have been asked to stay away as the institution battles an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

Some 300 people at the north Dublin hospital have now come down with norovirus infection, with 60 staff and 240 patients among those affected since the outbreak began almost a month ago.

Children have been banned from visiting the hospital entirely and a limit of one visitor per patient is being applied.

Hospital authorities believe the peak of the outbreak has now passed but visitors are still being asked to stay away over the Easter weekend, a spokesperson said.

It is entirely understandable that people may be keen to visit a close friend or relative in the hospital over the Easter holiday. Unfortunately, while the peak of the outbreak does now appear to have passed, visitor restrictions are still necessary.

The spokesperson also thanked the public for their co-operation. “Most people have have heeded our pleas to avoid all unnecessary visits to wards,” the official said.

The hospital issued a previous appeal along similar lines three weeks ago.

More: Beaumont Hospital appeals to visitors over winter vomiting bug>