Norovirus hospital cases hit new winter high
New surge in norovirus hospital cases as NHS issues fresh warning
- Norovirus cases in English hospitals have reached a new winter high, with an average of 950 beds occupied daily last week by patients with symptoms.
- This figure marks a 15 per cent increase from the previous week's average of 823 patients and is higher than the 898 patients recorded at the same point last year.
- Alongside norovirus, hospitals also treated an average of 1,987 patients with flu and 647 with Covid-19 daily last week, although flu rates have decreased since last month's peak.
- NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit advised frequent handwashing and urged individuals not to return to work, school, or visit hospitals until 48 hours symptom-free to prevent the spread of norovirus.
- Despite a higher number of ambulance handovers last week, the average handover time improved to 34 minutes and 32 seconds, nearly three minutes faster than the week prior.
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