Jump in number of Covid patients

The number of coronavirus patients at the Royal United Hospital’s Bath NHS Foundation Trust has jumped to a level not seen since early January 2022.

Official figures from the government show that on March 8, there were 65 inpatients with coronavirus on the wards of the Royal United Hospital, four of whom were on ventilators.

A figure that high has not been reported since January 11 when there were 71 patients with Covid in the hospital.

The number of patients increased from March 1 when there were 58 with Covid on the wards. The same time last month (February 1) there were 41 patients with coronavirus in the hospital.

Infection rates across Bath and North East Somerset have also risen slightly in March, up from a dip in February. On March 8, the most recent data available, there were 222 new infections of Covid recorded across the area, with a further 28 reinfections.

By contrast, February 25 saw just 65 new infections and four reinfections across Bath and North East Somerset.

In terms of infections by age groups, the 40 to 44-year-olds have the highest number of Covid cases per 100,000.

As of March 9, that age group had a rolling infection rate of 1,072.

The age group just below, 35 to 39-year-olds, also has a high case rate - 1,049 on March 9.

Another age group with a high case rate is the 45 to 49-year-olds, who have a rate of 790 per 100,000.

The age group with the lowest rate of infection at the moment is the 20 to 24-year-olds who have a rate of 323.6 per 100,000.

In the past seven days, a further death from Covid has been reported where the person tested positive sometime in the previous 28 days. It brings Bath and North East Somerset’s total number of deaths to 291.

It is now two years since Covid hit the UK and the first lockdown in March 2020.

As we reach the two year milestone the last remaining Covid restrictions are coming to an end across the UK.

England and Northern Ireland have already removed all remaining laws, and Scotland and Wales are due to follow suit by the end of March. England is now embarking on its ‘living with Covid’ plan.

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, confirmed on Monday that all remaining Covid travel measures, including the passenger locator form and tests for all arrivals, will be stood down for travel to the UK from 4am on Friday (March 18).

He said: “These changes are possible due to our vaccine rollout and mean greater freedom in time for Easter.”