A patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died at St Thomas’ Hospital.
In a short statement today, the hospital said the woman had tested positive for the disease and was being cared for at the hospital.
She was in her early nineties, and had underlying health conditions.
“Sadly a patient being cared for at St Thomas’ Hospital has died,” said the Trust. “The patient was in her early nineties and had underlying health conditions.
“She had tested positive for COVID-19. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
As of 9am this morning, 35 people in the UK have died from the virus. According to department of health figures this morning, there were 1,372 registered coronavirus cases in the UK.
However the authorities have warned that the true total is likely to be higher, as testing is now being focussed on those within hospitals.
This week, government medical advisers said they expected between 5,000 to 10,000 people in the UK to have the disease.
It comes after this week:
- King’s College NHS Trust cancelled its elective inpatient operations to cope with coronavirus demand
- Southwark Council announced it was considering cancelling public meetings in response to the pandemic
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ warned appointments and operations could be cancelled because of COVID-19
- Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP, Neil Coyle, closed his office as a ‘precaution’ over coronavirus
This morning, health secretary Matt Hancock starkly warned of the wide-reaching impact of the pandemic.
He raised the prospect of over-70s being asked to stay at home for up to four months to protect themselves from the virus.
In addition, ministers said the closure of bars, restaurants and non-essential shops could also not be ruled out in the future.
The latest government guidance on the virus can be found here.
At the time of writing there have been thirty confirmed cases in Southwark.