Number of Covid patients in Scarborough and York hospitals reaches highest level
and live on Freeview channel 276
York and Scarborough Hospitals currently have 135 patients with coronavirus – higher than the peak of 131 in March 2020 – and hospital bosses expect that number to rise during the next two weeks.
There are currently 150 beds for Covid patients but hospital chief executive Simon Morritt says more space is being created.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe said in previous waves Scarborough Hospital felt the impact more than York – but this time York is under more pressure.
“We are seeing quite a rapid rise in the number of covid admissions,” he said, adding that just days ago there were 70 coronavirus patients.
That number has now almost doubled.
“We can expect to see a tough few weeks," he said.
"In seven to 10 days we would expect to see the effect of lockdown kick in.”
He added that clinicians have told him that Covid patients now tend to be younger and sicker.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe rate of Covid cases doubled in the week between Christmas and New Year, a meeting of York’s Health and Wellbeing Board heard.
And the latest provisional data puts the city’s rate at almost 560 cases per 100,000 people – well above the regional average.
Sharon Stoltz, director of public health, said there has been a worrying rise in the number of cases among people over the age of 60.
But all age groups, including children, saw a rise in infections.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe local contact tracing service is busy and currently recruiting more staff to help manage the rising workload.
The meeting heard plans to vaccinate a lot of people quickly are in place and the only delay has been in getting supplies of the vaccine.
Ms Stoltz said: “The pandemic is going to get worse over the next few weeks before it gets better.
“But we have the hope of the vaccine on the horizon and longer [spring] days and all of that to look forward to.”
A message from the editor
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world.
The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.
We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.
Thank you,
Jean MacQuarrie, Editor-in-Chief