COVID-19: "Sad and sobering milestone" deaths hit 200 at Salisbury District Hospital
Our thoughts are with their family and friends
Salisbury District Hospital have confirmed that a further three patients have passed away there, having tested positive for Covid-19.
This means that since the pandemic started, the total number of fatalities at the hospital has reached 200.
The NHS Foundation Trust have called it "a sad and sobering milestone".
A spokesperson for Salisbury District Hospital said:
"Sadly, we can confirm that another three patients who had been cared for at Salisbury District Hospital and had tested positive for COVID-19 have died.
Three men, one in his 50s, one in his 70s, and one in his 80s died on 25th February.
All had underlying health conditions.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients’ families and loved ones at this very difficult and distressing time.
The total number of patients that have died at Salisbury District Hospital after receiving a COVID-19 positive test result is now 200. This is a sad and sobering milestone and behind every one of these numbers are families and friends who are mourning a life cut short.
LATEST CASES
In the seven days to 21st February, there have been 423 positive cases in Wiltshire.
That's a decrease of 171 on the previous week.
This means the county's rolling rate per 100,000 population is at 84.6
The national average is 117.
COVID-19 FACTS
What is Covid-19?
Covid-19 emerged as a virus in December 2019 as the first cases are reported in Wuhan, China. Scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus created a global pandemic as it began to spread around the world. Symptoms can range from very mild to severe, causing death in some cases. Some people are completely asymptomatic and do not realise they even have the virus.
Has there been a virus like this before?
The SARS pandemic in 2003 was similar to Covid-19 in that it was also caused by a coronavirus. SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The global outbreak of SARS lasted from 2002-2003, infecting over 8,000 people and killing 774. Covid-19 and SARS are both respiratory illnesses, but SARS was much more deadly and less infectious.
What are the main symptoms?
The NHS say the main Covid-19 symptoms are a high temperature, a new and continuous cough and loss or change to taste of sense or smell. NHS advises people with Covid-19 to take plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take paracetamol for a high temperature.
What was the Government reaction?
The UK Government announced the first of several lockdowns in March 2020. By the end of the month, more than 100 countries around the world introduce full or partial lockdowns, preventing people from going to work, restricting everyday tasks and affecting the livelihoods of billions of people globally.
Which countries have been worst hit?
During the first year of the pandemic, the US recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world and the most deaths, reporting an unprecedented 100,000 new cases in one day on November 4th 2020. Thousands of new cases were recorded on the same date in India (46,000+), the United Kingdom (22,000+), Brazil (17,000+) and Mexico (5,000+), while Ireland records less than 1,000 (578). Hundreds of other countries also reported a high rate of infection.
How have vaccines fought against Covid-19?
Vaccines began being approved for use across the globe. By January 2021, the UK approved the use of three different vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and the Moderna vaccine are rolled out to the public, with older people and those with greater health concerns getting priority. In April 2022, just under 53 million people had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
What are new Covid variants?
Four new variants of Covid-19 were discovered around the world. Beta was found in South Africa, Gamma in Brazil and Delta in India, while the Alpha variant was first located in Kent, UK. New variants are not likely to make someone more seriously ill than Covid-19 would, but variants like Delta have a higher infection rate, meaning it can be more easily spread.
The Omicron variant was first detected late 2021 in South Africa. Since then, it has become one of the most dominant variants in the world, with its own sub strains - BA.4 and BA.5.