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Liverpool hospitals are now seeing more coronavirus patients than in the first peak in April, said a medical director at the hospital trust.
Dr Tristan Cope, medical director of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Royal, Aintree and Broadgreen Hospitals, said “enormous pressure” had been put on staff, adding that the numbers were continuing to rise.
He wrote on Twitter: “Unfortunately we are now treating more patients in hospital with Covid-19 @LivHospitals than in April at the peak of the first wave and the numbers continue to rise.
“It is so important that people in #liverpool and @LivCityRegion adhere to social distancing restrictions.
“Treating so many Covid patients, in addition to the usual acute and emergency care of patients with non-Covid conditions, puts great pressure on @LivHospitals staff.
“Thank you to all of our staff for your incredible hard work and dedication in dealing with this very difficult situation.
“We can all help reduce that pressure by doing the right thing and taking some very simple steps: wash our hands frequently, stay away from other people outside our home, and wear face covers indoors.”
Liverpool currently has the third highest transmission rate in the country and was the first area to be subject to Level 3 restrictions.
Such measures are the strictest levels imposed by the government and have resulted in the closure of bars and pubs that do not serve food.
According to the latest infection figures, 2,970 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Liverpool area during the seven days leading up to October 17.
This, therefore, marks a rate of 596.3 cases per 100,000 people, and is below 691.7.
