Wards at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital are still closed after an outbreak of Norovirus struck last week.

The East and North Herts NHS Trust are blaming visitors for bringing the virus in to the hospital and said they are “ignoring” or are “unaware” of advice about the vomiting bug.

In response the hospital closed three wards and advised people with non-serious aliments to go elsewhere for treatment. People with the virus or symptoms – which are vomiting and diarrhoea – need to be symptom free for 72 hours before visiting hospital. The trust is also asking anyone who has a procedure or appointment date at one of their hospitals coming up who begins to feel unwell to ring first before attending.