Mercy Hospital to remain closed to all visitors except on urgent grounds

Infection risk to patients forces Cork hospital to bring in measures

14:01, 25 Apr 2026Updated 14:03, 25 Apr 2026

Henry Street outside the Mercy Hospital(Image: Google)

Visitor restrictions at Cork’s Mercy University Hospital will remain in place into next week due to a serious infection risk – understood to be the Norovirus or Winter Vomiting Bug.

Cork’s second-largest hospital had to introduce measures earlier in the week after staff and patients noticed a sharp rise in the bug, which is highly transmissible and is rampant in Cork at the moment. Similar closures have affected both the Mercy and Cork University Hospital in recent months and the upturn in the weather has not brought relief. It’s understood hospital chiefs will reasses the situation on Monday or Tuesday but a rapid re-opening is not expected.

A spokesperson for the Mercy said: Visitor restrictions at Mercy University Hospital remain in place. This precautionary measure is essential to protect patients and staff.

Requests for visiting on compassionate grounds will continue to be facilitated. Please continue to follow the guidance of staff regarding hand hygiene and the use of PPE.

We kindly remind you not to visit the Hospital if you have a Cough/Vomiting/Diarrhoea or feel unwell in any way.

CorkBeo will continue to monitor the situation and we will bring you any updates that we have.