Covid hospital patient numbers double in a week

COVID-positive in-patient numbers at Rotherham Hospital have doubled in the past week, while cases in the community have soared by 65 per cent.

As of yesterday morning, 33 in-patients had tested positive for the virus — more than double the numbers of a week ago.

Three patients with Covid were in critical care.

One further death brings the total of Covid-positive patients who have died at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 714.

The total number of in-patients who have tested positive since Covid-19 began is now 3,582.

In the last seven days, 1,594 people have been found to have the virus — a rise of more than 65 per cent on the previous week.

More than 84 per cent of the population aged over 12 in the borough have had their first dose, more than three quarters (78.3 per cent) have had their second, and more than half (54.9 per cent) have received a booster jab.