The most important measure is careful hand hygiene . Consistent hand washing after using the toilet and before eating is the most important measure for everyone to protect themselves and others. All children must learn to wash their hands thoroughly. In the case of sick children, hand washing should be supervised for several days after recovery. Only liquid soaps from dispensers and disposable towels (no bar soap, no shared towels) may be used.

Parents and the staff of the communal facilities must be informed after

• every nursing contact with the sick child (e.g. diapering)
• Removal of excrement
• cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that have come into contact with vomit or stool,

Disinfect hands with a norovirus-activeagent, even if disposable gloves were worn.

Ensure that hand disinfection is carried out correctly. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions! It is advisable to wear disposable gloves, mouth and nose protection and (disposable) protective gowns when cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces. The protective clothing must then be disposed of in a closed garbage bag or washed at more than 60°C. It makes sense to disinfect frequently touched surfaces even if they are not visibly soiled.

Sick people should stay in bed during the acute phase and consistently limit contact with other people for up to 48 hours (preferably 72 hours) after the end of the diarrhea.

Children under the age of six who suffer from or are suspected of suffering from infectious gastroenteritis are not allowed to attend communal facilities in accordance with Section 34 (1) IfSG. Re-admission should take place at the earliest 48 (preferably 72) hours after the symptoms have subsided.

A medical certificate is not required!

Sick staff should be released from work if they have gastrointestinal symptoms. Work can be resumed at the earliest two (preferably three) days after the symptoms have subsided, with strict adherence to hand hygiene.

As virus excretion may decline even after the symptoms have subsided, but can continue for up to 14 days, hand and toilet hygiene must be observed particularly strictly during this time.

Disposable wipes soaked in disinfectant are best used to remove stool and vomit, which should be disposed of immediately in closed bin liners. The soiled surface is then disinfected with a disinfectant that is effective against viruses.

If norovirus infections occur frequently in a facility, the sanitary areas must be wipe-disinfected at least daily, as must the hand contact surfaces (e.g. door handles, telephone receivers, handrails, computer keyboard and mouse).

Virucidal alcohol-soaked wipes are ideal for small surfaces. Non-alcoholic agents should be used to disinfect larger surfaces. Agents with proven effectiveness against norovirus from the VAH list (Association for Applied Hygiene (opens in a new tab)) are suitable for this purpose (consultation with the responsible health authority is recommended). The manufacturer's instructions regarding concentration and contact time must be observed.

Dishes that have been used by sick people are transported in closed containers and can be cleaned in the dishwasher as usual (at temperatures higher than 60°C) Laundry from sick people is treated as infectious (i.e. washing at temperatures higher than 60°C).

According to Section 6 (1) of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), infectious gastrointestinal diseases must be reported if a person who works in the food sector is affected (Section 42 IfSG) or if two or more diseases occur in which an epidemic connection is probable or suspected.

The management of kindergartens, day nurseries or crèches must inform the responsible health authority about the occurrence of frequent (≥ 2 cases) infectious gastrointestinal diseases (Section 34 IfSG para. 6). Parents of affected children are obliged to report every case of illness to the community facility.