The gastrointenstinal outbreak in Kamloops isn’t in the clear just yet.

The Interior Health Authority says three more patients and three more staff have become sick in a new ward of Royal Inland Hospital.

“All the others wards were all clear or almost all clear. The new date for a full all-clear at Royal Inland Hospital is now February 11th,” IHA spokesperson Susan Duncan says.

It’s not clear yet if the latest outbreaks are the norovirus, Duncan says.

“We don’t know yet… specimens are being tested. But norovirus is a difficult bug to get rid of; noroviruses are highly contagious and spread easily from person to person.

Duncan says there have now been 80 cases of gastrointenstinal illness between RIH and the Hillside Psychiatric Centre, which is on the same property.

The outbreak is also still in effect at the Berwick on the Park seniors care home, which is one of two seniors home that has been impacted by the outbreak in Kamloops. It’s unclear exactly how many total gastrointestinal cases there have been at the two seniors homes.

Duncan says in the meantime, the public should take the same precautions when visiting RIH.

“It’s really important that vigilant hand-washing with soap and water or use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is essential. It helps prevent the illness and spread of the virus.”