Schools and hospital wards shut as norovirus hits
UPDATE: Schools were forced to close and more wards shut at hospitals today as the grip of winter vomiting bug norovirus took hold.
Tens of thousands of people in the region are thought to have the virus. At least two schools have shut because so many pupils and teachers are ill, while many still open have seen class numbers plummet.
This afternoon, Lyng Primary and All Saints Primary in West Bromwich revealed that they were closing early for the Christmas break as pupils and staff had been hit by the bug.
Glebefields Primary, in Sandgate Road, Tipton, sent pupils home yesterday and will be closed for the rest of the week due to the virus.
Wednesbury Oak Primary in Greenacre Road, Tipton, also closed early for Christmas after around 50 children fell ill. A deep clean is now taking place.
Scores of children at Kingsmead Technology College in Hednesford are said to be poorly while Gorsemoor Primary in Heath Hayes said 40 pupils were off with the bug.
Ward 10 at Stafford Hospital remained closed to new admissions today, with two confirmed cases. A bay on the Acute Medical Unit was closed.
Sandwell Hospital closed five wards and Birmingham's City Hospital closed three. All wards at both sites are closed to visitors.
Health bosses have said almost 880,000 people could have been affected by the bug nationally. John Harris, of the Health Protection Agency, said: "Norovirus is very contagious. The infection is short-lived although it is very unpleasant. Most people will not need to go to see their doctor and will recover in a couple of days."
