Precautions are in place at Vancouver General Hospital as the norovirus makes its rounds.

Coastal Health's Anna Marie D'Angelo says containment protocols - to stop the spread of the virus - are in place in a long-term care ward of the hospital and a floor of the residental pavilion.

She says a few people have shown symptoms.

"what typically happens is that somebody will have symptoms or one or two people and they'll be testing those people and once that is confirmed for norovirus they don't really track the numbers."

D'Angelo says you can protect the vulnerable and ill at the hospital by staying away if you are not feeling well.

Meanwhile, two wards at Royal Columbian Hospital remain closed because of an outbreak of norovirus.

The wards have been closed after 16 patients and several staff became infected with the flu-like virus.

Doctor Elizabeth Brodkin is the medical director of infection control with the Fraser Health Authority.

She says once staff have cleaned the space and the virus is no longer being transmitted, the wards will be back open.

"People should be aware that this is the time of year when we see norovirus. And it's actually widespread in the community right now. It's a particularly bad year for noro as it happens."

Brodkin adds a norovirus outbreak does not require the same "deep-cleaning" as would C. difficile, another germ that has closed hospital wards.

CKNW has learned the quarantine won't likely be lifted before Friday.