Nine patients who had a Covid-19 diagnosis at Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospitals pass away

The Southern Trust has this afternoon (Friday) confirmed that six patients at Craigavon Area Hospital, as well as three at Daisy Hill Hospital, who had tested positive for Covid-19, have since passed away.

In a public update, the Trust said the total number of patients connected to the Haematology Ward at Craigavon Area Hospital who have tested positive remains at 14.

Sadly six patients who had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 have passed away, the Trust added. Twenty-three members of staff have tested positive to date.

There are currently 45 staff members at Craigavon, who have been identified as potential contacts, and are currently self-isolating as a result.

In the male medical ward at Daisy Hill Hospital, eleven patients have tested positive for Covid-19.

Twenty-one staff have tested positive. There are 67 staff contacts currently off and self-isolating.

Three patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have sadly passed away.

Two staff members who tested positive are connected to theatres in Daisy Hill. Due to the impact on staffing, some elective surgery lists at the start of next week will be postponed.

Trust Chief Executive, Mr Shane Devlin said: “On behalf of all our staff, we pass on our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of patients who have passed away.

“Our immediate priority is to manage the serious impact of Covid-19 in our community and in our facilities. We have sought independent advice from both the NI Public Health Agency and Public Health England to make sure that our management is of the highest standard and we are sharing our learning with other Trusts across Northern Ireland.”

Visiting remains suspended to all Trust facilities.

Newry and Armagh Sinn Fein MLA, Liz Kimmins, commented: “I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the people who have sadly passed away in recent days and to wish those staff and patients from Daisy Hill who are recovering or self-isolating following the outbreak of Covid in the hospital last week.”

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