Norovirus scrubbed from Kamloops restaurant as health officials permit reopening

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A Kamloops, B.C., restaurant linked to a norovirus outbreak in that southern Interior city has reopened after a thorough scrubbing.

Interior Health environmental health officer Kevin Touchet says inspectors have verified intensive cleaning at Dorian Greek House has removed all traces of the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Touchet says food preparation areas were disinfected, along with anything else patrons could touch during their visit.

Dorian Greek House head waiter Larry Mason says a lot of business has been lost in the days since the outbreak was linked to the restaurant, with cancellations this week and throughout the busy Christmas and New Year’s period.

He says it’s a serious blow, adding there’s no way to tell if a staff member, patron or delivery person brought the bug into the restaurant.

Dorian was closed Monday after dozens of people in two separate groups became ill, with about 36 doctors, nurses and medical staff affected in the first outbreak, prompting cancellation of more than two dozen elective surgeries at Royal Inland Hospital last week. (CFJC)