Norovirus: The battle isn’t over yet

You may be wondering whether our infection control precautions to combat Norovirus are still in place – they are.

Thanks to the great work of staff and our partners in care, VGH has remained Noro-free for seven weeks. And, of course, we’d like to keep it that way.

That’s why our infection control precautions remain in effect on the VGH campus, UBCH campus and GF Strong. We’re still in flu and Noro season, and this is a friendly reminder that we need to remain vigilant to protect the health of our patients, clients and each other.

Infection control precautions still in effect

Meals and food onsite

• DO discard all open food (cookies, chips, etc).
• DO limit use of the staff fridge and store your food in individual bags or containers.
• DO clean out your unit/department staff fridge of left- behind food on a daily basis.
• DO keep unit kitchens closed to families and visitors. Visitors may continue to bring food for patients, but they cannot leave food behind on the unit or store food in the kitchen or visitor’s fridge.
• DON’T share food at meetings or anywhere else at our facilities unless the food is individually wrapped .
• DON’T leave personal food containers and leftovers in your unit/department fridge at the end of your work shift.
• DON’T eat in the cafeteria if a Norovirus case occurs on your unit.

• Practice frequent hand washing with liquid and soap and encourage patients and visitors to do the same.
• If necessary, supplement your area’s supply of Microsan and promote use by all patients, staff and visitors on arrival and before leaving.

Specimen testing

• Don’t submit specimens independently. Your Infection Control Practitioner will assess all patients and decide whether it’s necessary to submit a specimen for Norovirus testing.

• Don’t submit specimens on known outbreak floors. Once an outbreak has been declared on a floor, BCCDC will not perform testing on additional patients on that floor.

Feeling sick?

If you experience Norovirus symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, we want you to focus on getting well. We ask that you don’t return to work until 48 hours after your symptoms resolve. Food handlers (including healthcare workers who feed patients) are requested not to return until 72 hours after the resolution of all symptoms.

Report your illness in two steps 

• call the Absence Call Line at 1-866-924-4297
• call the Workplace Health Call Centre (WHCC) to provide your details over the phone. The WHCC can be reached at 1-866-922-9464 (toll-free). Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 0700-1700. After-hours messages can be left on voicemail.