Two more retirement homes have been hit by norovirus following an outbreak of the vomiting and diarrhea bug earlier this week in Tauranga.
The Bay of Plenty Times reported in Tuesday's paper retirement home Bethlehem Views age care facility had shut its doors to visitors and contractors after residents became ill.
Since then, Matua Lifecare and Bob Owens Retirement Village have also been hit with the norovirus.
Toi Te Ora chief medical officer Neil de Wet said norovirus was particularly hard on rest home or retirement village residents.
"Most of us will become ill for a while and recover quickly but if you are old and frail, the risk of dehydration is significant. It's an infection you don't want to have," he said.