Royal Cornwall Hospital suspends all visits after rise in Covid cases

Royal Cornwall Hospital has suspended all visiting after seeing a “significant increase” in Covid patients over the last few days.

The main NHS hospital in Truro said it had been a “difficult decision” but the restriction would likely be in place for at least the next week.

The trust said in a statement: “Over the last few days there has been a significant increase in the number of people in hospital who are Covid positive.

“Although the vast majority of the 85 people have been admitted for another reason, it means we have many wards or bays unable to take new admissions.

“As a result, we have had to take the difficult decision to suspend all visiting with immediate effect. This includes visits planned for later today and through the coming weekend.”

It said visiting arrangements for maternity, neonatal and paediatrics remain unchanged.

“We will be making every effort to resume visiting as soon as we can but we must reducee the number of people coming into our hospitals to a minimum, and it is likely we will have to keep this restriction in place for at least the next seven days,” the trust added.

Exceptional circumstances, including end of life care, would be considered by the hospital on an individual basis, it added.

Earlier this week, Cornwall Live reported the county was experiencing a surge in Covid cases over the latest seven-day period but overall the figures had dropped since the start of the new year.

The rise in infections has resulted in Cornwall’s public health officials to urge the public to continue with regular tests as well as taking precautions to keep it “at bay”.