No visitors will be allowed on the wards of Craigavon Area Hospital as it tries to get to grips with clusters of Coronavirus.
A total of 14 patients and 16 staff have now tested positive for the virus on its Haematology Ward, while an additional cluster of the virus has been identified overnight in the Co Armagh hospital's Ward 3 South.
In total, 67 of the hospital's staff are self isolating as a precaution.
The Southern Trust, however, said in their latest update that Emergency Department services have returned to normal with no further cases of Covid-19 identified.
Visits will only be permitted in end of life situations as a result.
Their release reads:
Emergency Department
Situation returning to normal with no further cases identified
Haematology Ward
A total of 14 patients have tested positive.
Sixteen members of staff have tested positive and are currently off and self-isolating.
Contacts of these staff members are being identified and isolating as a precaution, So far, 40 staff members have been identified as potential contacts and are currently self-isolating.
Detailed investigation is on-going. The Ward remains closed to new admissions.
Ward 3 South
A cluster has been confirmed overnight in Ward 3 South. One member of staff and one patient have tested positive. There are currently 11 staff members self-isolating.
Craigavon Hospital Visiting Arrangements
To minimise the number of people coming on to the Craigavon site, all visiting will be temporarily suspended from Wednesday September 2.
This will be reviewed after 7 days. The Trust’s priority is to limit the number of people in the hospital while COVID19 continues to circulate in the community. We understand that visiting is important to our patients and clients and will re-introduce visiting as soon as it is safe to do so.
Visiting is only for end of life care and must be arranged with the Ward Manager. Virtual visiting is available on request by contacting 077 7651 6419 between 9am and 5pm.
