When can I go back to work after norovirus?

When does the 48-hour clock start?

The clock starts when your symptoms stop, not when they started. Count from your last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

If your last episode was Monday at 8 pm, the earliest return is Wednesday at 8 pm. In practice that usually means a Thursday morning shift.

Most people get better within 1 to 3 days, according to the CDC. So many people miss about 3 to 5 days of work in total. That is normal and not a sign that something is wrong.

• Starts: your last vomit or loose stool
• Minimum wait: 48 hours with no vomiting or diarrhea
• Still contagious after: norovirus can stay in stool for 2 weeks or more

Does it matter what job I have?

Yes. The 48-hour advice applies to everyone, but some jobs have formal rules on top of it because a sick worker can spread norovirus to many people at once.

• Office and remote-friendly jobs: stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop. If you can work from home, that is a good way to cover the gap. When you go back, wash your hands well after the bathroom and before eating, and don't share food.
• Food workers: the CDC says food workers should stay home when sick and for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop. Tell your manager about your symptoms. When you return, don't touch ready-to-eat food with bare hands; use gloves or utensils and wash your hands before and after gloving.
• Healthcare workers: CDC infection control guidelines say to exclude ill staff from work for a minimum of 48 hours after symptoms resolve. Your facility's employee health team may have its own return policy.
• Childcare and school staff: the CDC lists daycares and schools among the places where sick workers should not prepare food or care for others. Use the same 48-hour minimum and check your program's policy.

What do food safety rules require for restaurant workers?

Most states base their restaurant rules on the FDA Food Code, a model code that each state, county, or city can adopt in full, in part, or with changes. The CDC describes one key Food Code provision as excluding sick staff for at least 24 hours after symptoms go away.

That 24-hour number is a legal floor, not the CDC's health advice. The CDC's own advice for food workers is at least 48 hours. A confirmed norovirus diagnosis can bring stricter rules, and some places need the local health department to approve your return.

Your manager and your local health department have the final word. If the rules where you work say longer than 48 hours, follow the longer rule.

Why can I still spread it after I feel fine?

Norovirus leaves your body in vomit and stool. It can show up before you feel sick, and the CDC says it can stay in your stool for 2 weeks or more after you feel better. The 48-hour wait covers the time when you shed the most, but it does not make you germ-free.

That is why handwashing still matters for the next couple of weeks. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The CDC and NHS both say hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus, so use it only as a backup, never instead of washing.

• Wash hands after the bathroom and before eating or making food
• Consider not bringing in food for coworkers for 2 weeks, since the virus can still be in your stool
• Don't share cups, utensils, or snacks at work

How do I clean up so I don't bring it back to work?

Norovirus spreads easily from surfaces, so clean your home before you return, especially if others live with you.

• Bleach: the CDC recommends a chlorine bleach solution of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm, which is about 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach (5% to 8%) per gallon of water. Leave it on the surface for at least 5 minutes.
• Laundry: wash soiled items with detergent and hot water on the longest cycle, then dry on the highest heat. Wash your hands afterward.
• High-touch spots: toilet seats, flush handles, faucets, door handles, and your phone.

How do I stay hydrated while I recover?

There is no medicine that cures norovirus, and antibiotics will not help because they fight bacteria, not viruses. The main job is replacing the fluid you lose.

The CDC says to drink plenty of liquids. Over-the-counter oral rehydration fluids are most helpful for mild dehydration. Sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can also help, though they may not replace all the minerals your body needs.

• Signs of dehydration: peeing less than usual, dark pee, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when you stand up
• Higher risk: older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and people with other illnesses