Today it was revealed that a top surgeon at Aintree Hospital is the fifth person in Liverpool to be diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The consultant was diagnosed on Monday after returning from Italy.
Concerns have been raised that the surgeon may have been operating on patients and mixing with staff for as long as a week while having the virus without knowing.
So what is the hospital doing to stop the potential spread of coronavirus?
Naturally people are concerned that the surgeon in question may have passed the virus onto his patients or colleagues in the time he was back in work after returning from Italy.
- Firstly, the hospital has confirmed that the surgeon has been in self-isolation since being confirmed as positive for COVID-19.
- Other staff members at Aintree who may have been in contact with the worker have also now been sent home to self-isolate.
- The Trust says it has contacted all the patients that have been identified as having come into contact with the surgeon and are 'working with Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England to inform and advise those who may have come into contact with this individual.'
- Finally, the Echo understands that the areas where the staff member worked have been deep cleaned.
Risk for majority remains low
The Trust was keen to point out that for the majority, there is only a small risk from the virus.
A spokesman said: "“Aintree University Hospital remains open and patients should attend their appointments as planned.
“For the majority of people the risk from COVID-19 is low. The NHS has an online service that can tell you if you need medical help, which is available at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or by calling NHS 111.”
What the hospital say
All relevant areas where the staff member worked have been deep cleaned.
The Trust is following national protocols from PHE and is working within guidelines Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure all practices are safe and meet the necessary requirements.
