Corner Brook -
Restrictions on visitors will continue at Western Health's hospital and long-term care facilities in Corner Brook for the time being.
Dr. Minnie Wasmeier, Western Health's chief operating officer for secondary services, said Monday there is no way for the health authority to know how long the restrictions will be in place.
Meetings are being held every two days to get an update on the situation with the goal of restoring normal visiting hours once it's safe.
"If there are symptoms, we can't do anything until 48 hours are up," Wasmeier said. "What we do is we keep following it, look at what the changes are and decide when - based on a drop in the cases and where they're located - we drop the visitor restrictions."
Visitors, who are allowed in the facilities on a case-by-case basis, are being asked to sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving. Volunteers also have been asked to stay away from the affected units.
Norwalk virus has been confirmed in one patient in Western Memorial Regional Hospital as of Monday with four more undergoing testing.
The gastrointestinal disease has been confirmed in one person on one unit in the O'Connell Centre and seven more on another unit. Visitation restrictions there began Friday. The Interfaith Home has had restrictions in place since Feb. 1, and there is one unit affected with five people sick as of press time.
Wasmeier is advising people who are suffering from vomiting and diarrhea to stay at home and drink plenty of fluids.
"It's a self-limiting disease," Wasmeier said. "It usually gets better within 24-48 hours - that's the usual. Not everyone responds to usual.
"We don't want people going to the doctor with vomiting and diarrhea. If you've got it and you're doing OK, drink plenty of fluids, stay home, wash your hands, the typical stuff."
