OMICRON Covid-19 increases highest in London
One in 25 people in England had Covid last week
One in 15 people in London had coronavirus in week ending 23 December
More than two million in UK had coronavirus in week before Christmas
New COVID surge Hospital Hubs are being built
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics
A further 332 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test.
11,452 Patients in hospital in England the highest since February.
NHS staff absences have nearly doubled with 24,632 staff at NHS hospital trusts ill with coronavirus or having to self-isolate on Boxing Day.
In London, staff absences at hospital trusts have quadrupled in a month to 4,580.
It has prompted fresh demands from NHS leaders for essential workers in health and other sectors to be prioritised for lateral flow tests, which are seeing mass shortages.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the health service was facing a “perfect storm” of rising COVID hospital admissions and illness alongside increasing staff absences.
[…] NHS staff isolating has doubled, and new Nightingale surge hubs are being built.In exceptional circumstances, for example when visiting children or patients receiving end of life care, visiting arrangements can be made in advance by contacting the ward directly. Please see the trust website for further information (www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/covid/visitingrestrictions.asp).No visitors will be allowed on any of our hospital sites apart from in the following exceptional circumstances:• The patient is receiving end of life care.• The patient is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).• The patient is a child on a paediatric ward, being visited by their parents or an appropriate adult.• The patient has a mental health issue, where not having a family member present would cause distress to the patient.• The patient has dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not having a family member present would cause distress to the patient.Visiting arrangements for maternity services at the hospital sites will not be affected by these changes. Further details about current visiting arrangements for maternity are available on the trust’s maternity services website (www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/maternity/). […]