Norovirus Outbreak Puts Senior Living Facility in Quarantine

Residents at the Baywood Court Retirement Community in Castro Valley have been asked to stay in their rooms for the past two weeks after the facility experienced an outbreak of norovirus, a severe gastrointestinal illness, according to Mercury News.

Executive director at Baywood Court Retirement Community, Bruce Udelf, did not disclose how many people came down with the illness but the quarantine could be lifted by next week. 

“It’s been a couple of days since our last new case,” he said. 

The outbreak caused the facility to shut its dining hall and stop activities and outings. New residents haven’t been admitted and staff members have to deliver residents’ meals to their rooms.

The senior living facility consists of individual apartment, a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living center.

According to Udelf, touching and mingling spread the virus. Meals are being served on paper plates, which then get disposed.

The facility is following the advice of the Alameda County Public Health Department.