North Yorkshire Covid patient numbers fall slightly
There were 122 patients in hospitals with the virus yesterday - down by 10 compared to the same time last week.
There's been a slight drop in Covid patients at hospitals in North Yorkshire.
It's down by 10 compared to the same time last week - with 122 virus patients in hospitals as of yesterday.
But the number of patients in intensive care with the virus has gone up by six - rising to 26.
The latest figures were provided by Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, who in an update to a meeting of the county’s Local Resilience Forum today also said Covid and flu vaccines would be key to minimise pressure on the NHS this winter.
She said: “Winter is always the NHS’s busiest time of year and we expect that to be the same this year.
“In addition, there are still Covid patients in our hospitals, we are working together to address the waiting lists which have arisen due to the pandemic and we also still have full Covid measures in place.
“The flu vaccination programme is one of the ways we can help protect hospital capacity this winter by helping people stay healthy and well and out of hospital.
“We would like to see as many people as possible get the flu vaccination this winter and will share information through the months ahead to support people with this.”
Ms Bloor also outlined the next steps of the Covid vaccination program, including jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds and boosters.
She said: “The NHS, working with school immunisation teams, will begin offering the vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds once the operational plans are finalised. Other teenagers can continue to use the established routes to access a vaccine.
“We have also had additional announcements about the Covid-19 booster programme this week.
“Boosters will be one dose and should not be administered any sooner than six months after the second dose of the vaccination.
“Boosters will be offered to everyone who was eligible for a vaccine under the first phase of the vaccine programme – cohorts one to nine.”