Visits to patients at Cork University Hospital (CUH) will only be allowed on compassionate grounds, following a major outbreak of the winter vomiting bug at the hospital campus.
Multiple wards at the hospital have been affected, according to CUH management who imposed the restriction on visitors from today.
Visits will have to be agreed in advance with clinical teams.
Norovirus - or the winter vomiting bug - causes the sudden onset of severe vomiting and diarrhoea and can spread quickly.
CEO Jennifer Kearney said the outbreak is currently affecting multiple wards and several strains of the norovirus are circulating.
"In the interests of protecting vulnerable patients and your own health, unapproved visiting to the hospital is not permitted at this time.
"The public should be aware that all entrances to the hospital have been secured and entrance to the hospital is being carefully managed," Ms. Kearney said.
Last week, restrictions were imposed on visitors to CUH in a bid to control the outbreak.
HSE South West appealed to the public not to visit CUH or any other facility if they had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.
