The 48 hour rule for Norovirus

[BetzOnMark3]

If symptoms have gone away for a couple of days and then return/have one episode of it, do you start the 48 hours off from school/work from then?

Really can't afford to take off as I won't get paid

I would say it depends, an episode of vomiting the yes definitely however one slightly upset tummy could just be your tummy settling back down?

48 hours is from the last episode.

If they've vomited, yes you do. Sympathies, but it's not fair to send your child back to give it to other children whose parents also might not be able to afford to take time off.

Yes, absolutely. It's at least 48 hours after the last episode of d or v. This is why the rule exists. Until at least 48 hours have passed there's a high likelihood of another episode. It doesn't matter whether the episode of d or v might have been from eating too much too soon or coughing or jumping around - that d or v will be teeming with the virus.
If everyone stuck to these rules there would be far fewer bugs around and we'd all have to take less time off work.

(Sorry for slightly waspy reply, but our half term holiday has just been completely wiped out by a sickness bug that my DD picked up from a friend at school who was sent in the day after v...)

My friend sent her DD back the day after she had vomited at school and was raging because she had to take her home again as the 48 hours weren't up - but she's the first to complain about others doing that. The DD hadn't vomited again since that one time but there was no explanation for it like eating something different or coughing or anything so it could easily be a bug. That particular child usually seems to be sick again after 24 hours anyway. I don't think you can be too careful with this, it's so easily spread.

DC2 and I both had last symptoms Saturday, although Sun and Mon I had a very sore/cramping tummy.

Anyhow, after previously not showing any symptoms, DC1 was projectile shortly after I posted this thread, and was sick through Sunday night. So we've had to take off yesterday and today. Work isn't best pleased, but either we go in still contagious and spread the norovirus, or we be considerate and wait it out.

Work pointed out this morning on the phone that I need to arrange alternative childcare. I can't rely on my exh as he has a health condition which makes him particularly susceptible to infection, and he's self-employed. I did ask him if he could have DC1 on the off chance he'd say yes, not surprisingly he said no.