Hospital Covid rules unchanged as infection rates remain ‘high’

Hull Royal Infirmary

Covid restrictions at city hospitals remain in place, despite the lifting of some “Plan B” measures nationally today.

Patients, staff and visitors are being reminded that there are no rule changes at Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is currently caring for more than 100 inpatients with Covid-19, and said as local community infection rates remain high, people are being asked to continue with precautions to protect patients and safeguard hospital services.

Patients and visitors to all hospital sites, including Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, should continue to:

• Wear a face covering inside all hospital buildings

• Attend appointments alone (a limited number of exemptions apply, e.g. a parent with a child, or someone caring for a loved one with learning disabilities or advanced dementia)

• Wash or sanitise hands regularly while on hospital premises, and

• Practice social distancing wherever possible

Up to one in three people may have the Covid-19 virus without any symptoms and still be able to infect others, so it is recommended that a lateral flow test is taken and a negative result produced before attending any of the hospitals.

There are also no changes to ward visiting restrictions, which will continue in their current form for the time being.

Full details on the current visiting guidance and exemptions can be found here.

The trust has also asked patients and the public to be polite and cooperative if asked by staff to comply with any of the rules. Abusive language or aggressive behaviour towards NHS workers will not be tolerated, it said.