Chief doctor: Isolate if you have norovirus symptoms

England’s top doctor has urged the public to isolate for two days if they feel unwell after a surge in norovirus cases has gripped the country.

- BRYONY GOOCH

The latest NHS figures show that there were 1,094 patients a day in hospital with the illness last week, more than double the number of patients compared to the same period last year.

The warning comes a week after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggested the UK could experience a second norovirus wave with laboratory reports at the highest levels since reporting data this way began in 2014. Norovirus cases first peaked at the end of January with an average of 898 people a day in hospital with the virus for the week starting 20 January.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, warned that while the weather was getting warmer, the latest figures were proof that winter was far from over for NHS staff. He said staff continued to “work tirelessly to treat thousands of patients with norovirus and other nasty winter viruses each day”.

“Last month the NHS lost almost 44,000 bed days to norovirus, adding to already incredibly pressured bed occupancy levels and with flu, RSV and staff absences all up on last year, we are certainly not out of the woods yet.