Covid hospital admissions up
AVERAGE UP TO 10 A DAY – FROM UNDER FOUR AT END OF LAST MONTH
THE number of people being taken to hospital with Covid-19 is going up again after nearly three months of decline.
At the end of May, an average of fewer than four people per day were admitted to Leicester’s hospitals with the virus. But by June 16, Leicester was seeing an average of 10.3 Covid-19 admissions a day.
On Friday, the UK Health Security Agency office for the Midlands sent out a warning.
It said: “Every one of us needs to remain vigilant, take precautions, and ensure that we’re up to date with our Covid-19 vaccinations.
“We can all play our part. Stay at home if you have any respiratory symptoms or a fever and limit contact with others until you are feeling better, particularly if they are likely to be at greater risk if they contract Covid-19.
“Face coverings and hand washing still remain important in reducing transmission.
“Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces and washing your hands thoroughly and often, especially before and after getting on public transport or getting in from work, shops or the pub.
“Meeting others outside is much safer than indoors as the fresh air helps to blow the Covid-19 particles away.
“So, make the most of the warm weather over the summer and meet family and friends outside.
“Or if you meet indoors, let the fresh air in by opening doors and windows.
“Let’s enjoy the summer and our regained freedoms but keep in mind that Covid-19 hasn’t gone away and we all need to do our bit to live safely.”
The agency said new variants Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 now account for more than half of cases and are “driving the recent increase in infections”.
The latest government figures showed 73 people in Leicester’s hospital wards with the virus. Three of them were on ventilation beds.
The number of admissions to hospital peaked at more than 45 per day in January 2021 and then, after falling, 34 per day in January this year.
Local area statistics for cases are no longer as reliable, since free testing ended earlier this year. However, the latest map of Covid-19 cases in Leicestershire shows that most areas have seen big increases recently.
In the seven days to June 19, there was a 54.8 per cent rise in cases in Hinckley & Bosworth, a 53.2 per cent rise in North West Leicestershire and rises of 30 per cent or more in Leicester, Charnwood, Melton and Blaby districts.