The peak of coronavirus cases at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire is two-thirds higher than the first wave, health bosses have said.
Last year, the number of inpatients with Covid-19 at UHCW peaked at 161 in April, however the peak in the second wave was far higher – 262 in January 2021.
Nina Morgan, chief nursing officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, said there had been a “rapid increase” in transmission towards the end of December.
She told a test and trace subgroup at the city council on February 1: “In wave one we had our peak in April of last year on the 6th of April which was 161 inpatients at UHCW.
“Just by way of comparison, our wave two peak saw a high on the 19th of January and that was at 262 so over 100 additional patients to the first wave who were Covid positive in our hospitals.
“We really saw a rapid increase in admission towards the end of December through into January.
“Where it was a u-shaped curve it was very steep and rapidly rising coming into that second part of the ‘u’.
“Although we have seen a community decline in infection rates come mid-January, the coming down of patient numbers has been a lot slower as we treated patients who were positive a couple of weeks ago.”
Ms Morgan said the Trust currently has 215 patients who are Covid positive.
There were 166 admissions to UHCW in the last week compared to 220 the week before. Of that, 121 were Coventry residents with the median age standing at 67.
Director of Public Health Liz Gaulton said the rate of cases in Coventry was “consistently dropping” and hospital admissions were reducing.
Figures also showed more than 24,000 vaccinations have been given at the hospital.
Ms Morgan added: “We have over two Covid vaccination clinics on site and we have administered over 24,000 vaccinations from those two clinics.
“We have really focused on care home staff and vaccinated nearly 9,000 care home staff, we have focused on health and social care and around 5,000 staff, and nearly 9,000 UHCW staff so some really good figures.
“We have also vaccinated nearly 1,000 outpatients who were over 80.
“We are extending that in line with the national priorities but pleased we are taking a pragmatic approach that if they are coming on site we can offer them a vaccine.”
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