A visitor ban was today in place at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital to try to stop the winter vomiting bug norovirus spiralling out of control.

The news comes as 21 hospital staff were revealed to be off sick with the virus, while five wards are closed and eight are partially shut. Bosses say nearly all visiting to the hospital has been banned, except in the case of critically ill patients where the decision will be at the discretion of the ward manager. Only one visitor per child is now allowed in the children’s ward.

Whie in the maternity unit, a birthing partner can be present for the delivery of a newborn but no visitors after.

Chief executive David Loughton said: “The trust is taking every precaution possible to contain this virus and needs the public’s help and support with the measures that have been put in place.

“We do hope that friends and family will understand the measures we have taken and support our decisions to enable the hospital to get back to its usual operating arrangements as soon as possible.”

Mr Loughton said the ban would be in place for an “unspecified” period of time.

In the past week, a string of measures have been put in place to try to stem the spread of the highly-contagious virus, which causes sickness and diarrhoea.

Food, including grapes and chocolates, is no longer allowed to be taken into the hospital, while patients have been banned from leaving their wards.

The virus was first identified last week in ward D20, which cares for respiratory and neurology patients. It is feared it may have been started by a visitor handing round a box of chocolates.

A blanket ban on visitors was put in place at Manor Hospital in Walsall last Wednesday but was lifted two days later. Yesterday, two wards were reopened.

In Worcestershire, visitors have been banned from wards at its three hospitals, including Kidderminster Hospital and Worcestershire Royal Hospital, since January 4. Wards at Kidderminster Hospital were reopened to visitors yesterday.