COVID-19 update
Posted: 6 March 2020
It has been confirmed that a positive case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been identified on one of our inpatient wards at Watford General Hospital.
As a result, all of the patients who were on the same ward have been moved and a deep clean, which will be carried out in line with strict guidance from Public Health England, is being carried out.
An extensive 'contact tracing' exercise is now underway to trace anyone who might have had close (face to face) contact with the patient who has now tested positive for COVID-19.
Close contacts to the patient concerned will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after they had contact with the confirmed case. This tried and tested method will ensure that any risk to them is minimised and the wider public is protected.
Based on current evidence, COVID-19 presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing.
Chief Nurse Tracey Carter said: "To protect yourself, please be scrupulous with your hygiene and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and use and then bin tissues if you cough or sneeze. Thorough hand washing will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19."
She added: "Patients with appointments or who need to attend for urgent or emergency care should still come to hospital."
Note to editors
View the best and latest information on COVID-19.
- Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
- Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country
You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England
Ends
Notes to editors
- For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. For out of hours media enquiries please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).
