THE Countess of Chester Hospital has re-opened its general wing to visitors.

The whole site had been closed to visitors because of an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea.

However, wards 49 and 51 remain closed to visitors except by arrangement with the nurse in charge.

Anyone needing to visit a patient on these wards, is asked to call the ward via the switchboard on 01244 365000.

A Countess spokesman said: “The Trust would like to thank all visitors and members of the public for their co-operation while visiting restrictions have been in place.”

The hospital policy is to close the entire site once more than two wards are affected. Restricting access was necessary in a bid to reduce the spread of the illness, which is extremely infectious.

New patient admissions are not allowed on the affected wards.

Some staff have also exhibited symptoms.

Visiting restrictions have been applied with increasing regularity in recent times due to norovirus. A similar ban on all visitors was imposed last year.