A WARD at Hereford County Hospital has been closed as a number of patients have tested positive for coronavirus.

Wye Valley NHS Trust said it was "caring for a small number of confirmed Covid-19 inpatients" but due to NHS England guidance, was not able to say how many.

A spokesperson for the trust did say the hospital's Lugg ward, which cares for people with heart problems, is closed to admissions and visitors

"Lugg Ward at Hereford County Hospital is closed to admissions and visitors due to increased inpatient cases of Covid-19," the trust said.

"These patients are being cared for in isolation and Covid-19 testing for all inpatients on this ward has been carried out. The trust has also undertaken testing of relevant staff as a precautionary measure and visitor contact tracing."

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They added: "Patient safety is paramount and the trust has stringent infection prevention and control measures in place to help minimise the transmission of this virus within its hospitals.

"The trust has tried and tested plans in place and our hospital is set up to care for coronavirus patients.

"All inpatients are tested for Covid-19 on admission to hospital and cared for in isolation if their test is positive.

"This testing is also undertaken during the hospital stay in line with national guidance and when patients need to be transferred to care homes or a community hospital."

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Lugg ward is a 30 bedded in-patient ward, with 20 cardiology beds, the trust's website says.

They have five four-bedded bays and 10 single side wards. Patients are admitted to the ward from the coronary care unit, clinical assessment unit and acute medical unit (AMU). It means the ward looks after patients with all types of cardiac problems

"Enhanced cleaning and decontamination regimes are in place across the trust and staff are required to wear personal protective equipment when caring for patients and follow hand hygiene practices, in line with Public Health England guidance, to provide the safest possible care to patients," the spokesperson added.

"We would like to thank local residents for following the Governments’ advice and guidance.

"It is important that we continue to do this, in particular social distancing and staying at home if you have Covid-19 symptoms to help us all to stay safe and prevent a second wave of coronavirus."