Everything we know so far about the coronavirus outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital

A small coronavirus outbreak has been confirmed at Pinderfields Hospital, with two patients and four staff testing positive for the virus.
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This is everything we know so far about the outbreak - and how the district is responding to Covid-19.

When was the outbreak confirmed?

Late on Tuesday afternoon, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that they had discovered a small coronavirus outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital.

This is everything we know so far about the outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital - and how the district is responding to Covid-19.This is everything we know so far about the outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital - and how the district is responding to Covid-19.
This is everything we know so far about the outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital - and how the district is responding to Covid-19.
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Two patients and four members of staff on one of the hospital's wards have tested positive for the virus.

The exact ward has not been confirmed, but the Trust, which also runs Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals, had previously centralised all coronavirus treatment at their Wakefield site.

As a precautionary measure, the affected ward has been temporarily closed to new admissions, with all new patients now treated on a different ward.

All inpatients and staff on the ward have been tested for the virus, and anyone who has had contact with those affected will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

What measures are being taken?

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The Trust said they were reviewing the circumstances of the outbreak to limit the spread of the virus, and reassured patients and their families that they had a range of measures in place to keep everyone safe, including PPE, hand sanitising stations, one-way systems and social distancing.

All patients are now tested for Covid-19 on their admission to hospital, with a second test carried out seven days later.

Any patient who tests positive for or is suspected of having Covid-19 is kept separate from other patients, and strict cleaning processes are in place, the Trust said.

Can I still attend my hospital appointment?

As the outbreak is isolated to one ward, the Trust are still operating as they were previously,

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Any patients with appointments or procedures booked at the hospital should attend as normal.

Hundreds of new workers joined the Trust in April as the coronavirus crisis first peaked, it was revealed earlier this week.

How can I get a test?

Anna Hartley, Wakefield's director of public health, said: “It is good to see a slight decrease in the number of positive case rates but I again urge people not to be complacent. The threat of COVID-19 remains a real threat to us all and I urge everyone to continue taking action to reduce the spread of infection.

“Please remember that you can make a massive impact on your own health and the health of family and friends if you keep following five simple rules:

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"Wear a face covering in any enclosed public space, if you can

"If you have underlying health issues or are aged 70+, avoid areas where you can’t adhere to 2m social distancing.

"Avoid any hugging or close contact with anyone outside your household

"Avoid car sharing with anyone outside of your household, if you can

"Maintain regular handwashing.”

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A local testing service has now been launched in the district, with a home delivery service in place.

The local testing service is available from Monday to Friday and bookings for appointments can be made at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 01924 224497.

Or email the person’s name and contact details to [email protected] so the booking team can get in touch.

Alternatively, you can book a test via the NHS website or calling the dedicated coronavirus helpline on 119.

What are the latest coronavirus figures for the district?

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According to the latest figures, there have been 1,827 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Wakefield district.

This means there has been roughly one case for every 188 people in the district.

There have been 328 coronavirus related deaths at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals, as well as 87 deaths at the district's care homes.

You can find out how many cases have been recorded in your local area here.

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Wakefield Council have also launched their own digital dashboard, which will be updated each week with the latest figures.

Have there been any other outbreaks?

This is the first outbreak in a medical setting, but there have been a number of other outbreaks in the district.

The first was at Forza Foods in Normanton, where a total of 17 members of staff tested positive for the virus.

This was quickly followed by confirmation of an outbreak at the Deep Sleep Beds factory in Ossett, and a number of cases at Urban House, an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Wakefield city centre.

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Two pubs in Ackworth confirmed that they had closed for a deep clean on July 9, just days after they were allowed to reopen,

It is believed that testing connected to these outbreaks, which discovered a number of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers, is behind a sudden spike in cases that saw Wakefield become an 'area of concern' earlier this month.