Visitors to a long term care facility in the north end of Edmonton are being turned away due to a viral outbreak.

According to a sign on the door of the Extendicare Eaux Claires, residents have been suffering from an outbreak of the Norovirus.

Gary and Laurie Clayton were told they could not deliver Christmas presents to their friend due to the outbreak.

“She said it’s a gastronal outbreak,” Gary said.

He was also told not to spread the word to any media.

“They said ‘no the media has to have the right information first.”

Management of the faculty told CTV News that 11 cases of the virus were still ongoing as of Saturday. That is down from the 35 cases the residence saw in total.

Laurie said she was disappointed not to be able to see her friend.

“A little frustrated,” she said. “We came from kind of far away.”

Family members will be allowed to visit for Christmas, management said, but not in the private rooms.

Officials said there have been 22 suspected or confirmed cases of Norovirus in Edmonton since November 1st. Last year at this time there were 50 cases.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith