Weekly cases of infection double in just a month
THE weekly number of new Covid-19 cases in Derbyshire is now double that at the start of October, with regular reports of more than 500 new infections per day.
In the Derbyshire Dales, the latest figures show a slower increase – there were 128 new cases in the past seven-day period, compared to 122 last week.
But the cumulative total of cases across the whole pandemic now stands at 773 – at the start of October it was 312.
In Ashbourne North, which encompasses Dovedale and Carsington, three new cases were reported last week but, in the much smaller Ashbourne South ward, there were 11.
In the Doveridge, Brailsford and Bradley area, which encompasses a large cluster of villages, there were 26 new cases up to October 28.
The area within Derbyshire with the highest number of new cases in the week to October 27 was Spital & Hasland, in Chesterfield borough, with 56.
In the entire county, 753 people have now died since the start of the pandemic and new figures show the number of Covid-19 patients in beds at Royal Derby Hospital is around the same level as during the peak of the pandemic.
According to the latest data there are now 141 Covidpositive patients at the Royal Derby Hospital, which had around 150 in April. This is more than triple the number its staff were overseeing just over two weeks ago.
The hospital has eight Covid patients in intensive care, lower than the 20 it had in April.
Queen’s Hospital in Burton has 49 Covid patients of whom six are in intensive care. This is double the number it had under two weeks ago. It had 100 Covid patients during the first peak. Queen’s and the Royal Derby are run by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
It says that in the past 10 days - from October 24 - 41 patients have died with Covid in its hospitals.
Government data shown during the national lockdown announcement on October 31 showed the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust has had Covid patient numbers over half of the previous peak every day for the past week, from October 23-30.
The trust put out a statement at the end of last week saying: “The rising levels of Covid-19 in our communities has meant that we have seen an increase in the number of Covid-19 infected patients we’re caring for in our hospitals.
“We are working hard to provide the best level of care we can and are doing everything we can to keep our hospitals safe.
“We learned a lot during the first wave, so we are better prepared and we are using this insight to improve our treatment of Covid-19 patients and protect others from the virus.
“During the summer we restored services affected in the first wave and this means the number of patients in our hospitals is greater this time, which also means there is more pressure on our staff and resources.
“We have not yet had to cancel planned services such as routine surgery, however we may have to make some difficult decisions if the level of Covid-19 admissions doesn’t slow down,” the trust spokesman added.
“Our priority will always be the most clinically urgent patients but we know how distressing delayed treatments are for everyone.
“We want to reassure our communities that our hospitals are safe and it is extremely important that anyone with significant health concerns continues to come to us for help.
“All inpatients are tested for Covid-19 on admission and those who test positive are cared for in separate wards to
those who test negative. All patients are re-tested every seven days to ensure they remain Covid-19 negative.
“If you have an appointment booked with us, please make sure that you attend so that you can continue with your treatment.”
Residents are being encouraged to continue coming to hospitals if they require care but to use NHS services “wisely”, to wear a face covering when doing so, wash their hands regularly, uphold social distancing and to abide by local restrictions.