Hospital staff marked an emotional milestone as their last remaining coronavirus patient left intensive care.
The unit (ICU) at Bristol's Southmead Hospital is now free of COVID-19 for the first time in months, after the patient was safely wheeled away on Tuesday (June 16).
There is of course a likelihood that more people with the virus will be admitted in future, but for now, the progress can be cautiously celebrated.
The patient who left the ICU, who has not been identified, had been there for 50 days before being considered well enough to leave.
Asked if this was the longest period a coronavirus survivor had spent there, North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said it was unable to comment due to patient confidentiality.
Sara Millin, a supervisory sister at the ICU, said in a tweet staff applauded as the "very happy patient" left.
She added: "It was an emotional event for many staff."
One woman, replied saying: "Seeing this has sent shivers down my spine - well done guys [you're] a brilliant team."
The NHS trust has recorded 118 virus-related deaths during the course of the pandemic, but official government figures record the last was on June 3, more than two weeks ago.
Evelyn Barker, chief operating officer at the trust, said: "We’ve come a long way in the past couple of months, but coronavirus is still with us and likely to be for some time.
"I want to thank the public for their support during the pandemic and ask them to continue to follow Government advice to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
"I would also like to thank our staff for continuing to provide high quality care to our patients during these challenging times."
