Hospitals now have fewer than 10 Covid patients

THERE are now fewer than 10 Covid-19 patients in the area’s hospitals.

In mid-january, there had been 524 in Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital in Burton – a peak for the pandemic.

On May 10, after countless hours of dedicated work from exhausted staff, this figure has plummeted to nine.

Hospital trust board papers make it abundantly clear that to retain low inpatient levels means retaining low levels of community Covid-19 transmission and to keep following infection prevention guidance hands, face, space. This comes as

Long Eaton in Erewash has become a national Covid hotspot after an outbreak linked to Wilsthorpe School saw more than 100 pupils and staff test positive.

There are five Covid patients at Royal Derby Hospital and four patients with the virus at Queen’s.

Meanwhile, there is just one in intensive care, being treated at Queen’s, while Royal Derby’s ICU is no longer home to a single patient with the virus.

This is down from a February peak of 12 intensive care patients with the virus at Queen’s and 21 at Royal Derby.

Gavin Boyle, the hospital trust’s chief executive wrote in board papers this week: “We are continuing to maintain our operational response to Covid-19, including plans to reopen Covid-19 capacity, including isolation rooms, and ensuring that staff who worked in ICU on a temporary basis maintain their competency levels should the number of patients increase.”

Mr Boyle said in his weekly blog: “We’re now down to fewer than 10 inpatients across the trust with Covid-19.

“That doesn’t mean to say that the measures in place to stop the spread of the virus in hospitals are going to be relaxed though, as they are still very much needed.”

From Monday, people will be allowed to meet indoors, in groups of up to six people or two households. Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to cater for customers indoors.

People can also meet in others’ homes, adhering to the Rule of Six, and in groups of up to 30 outdoors. The relaxation also means bigger attendances at weddings and funerals.