Keeping yourself safe from norovirus infection this winter – WHEN, WHERE, HOW – a Practical Guide

Keeping yourself safe from norovirus infection this winter - WHEN, WHERE, HOW - a Practical Guide

Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes sickness and diarrhoea. Following lower levels than normal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have started to see an increase in norovirus activity compared with the last two years as we head into the winter period, although it is still currently at a lower level than the same period in 2019.

Not only will this be important to protect the NHS (including protecting against ward closures due to norovirus outbreaks), it will reduce absenteeism from work, schools and day care, thereby protecting incomes, already under threat through the cost of living crisis.

Norovirus is able to spread easily through families in their own homes. It also spreads rapidly through communities where individuals have close contact such, hospitals, care homes, schools, nurseries and offices, so outbreaks are common in these settings.

This simple Practical Guide gives advice on the habits we need to adopt, as part of daily life routine, to reduce the risk of catching a respiratory infection or spreading it to someone else.  It works to build understanding of how these viruses spread and enable you to adapt your hygiene behaviour to suit your individual needs and lifestyle - and adapt to changes when they happen.