QEHB is currently treating a patient with novel coronavirus. The patient is believed to have contracted the virus from a relative who is being treated for the condition in a Manchester hospital.

The patient is an outpatient at QEHB, undergoing treatment for a long-term, complex unrelated health condition. The patient is immuno-compromised and therefore is susceptible to picking up infection.

The patient self-presented at QEHB on Saturday evening (February 9). Due to their known condition and the patient’s knowledge that a relative was being treated for the virus, the patient was admitted as an inpatient into a single room. The patient did not come into direct contact with any other patients.

All staff treating the patient complied with relevant infection control policies, wearing masks, gowns and gloves.

On Sunday (February 10) the patient was transferred to a single room in critical care as their condition had deteriorated. All staff are following appropriate infection control procedures. The patient’s room is being cleaned daily with detergent and hypochlorite is used on the floor.

The patient’s condition is currently described as stable.

The six staff who have come into close contact with the patient are being monitored but none have presented with any symptoms of the virus. They are being offered support from the hospital’s Occupational Health team and have all been given the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Q&A sheet and Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) guidance.

The patient’s visitors have been limited to three in total (same three) and are also required to follow stringent infection control procedures, ie gowns, masks etc.

QEHB is working closely with the Health Protection Agency.

For more information visit the HPA’s novel coronavirus and Q&A webpages.