QEH refutes COVID-19 claims

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has flatly denied viral social media reports of a COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital.

In a brief statement released on Thursday, the public hospital categorically stated: “There is no outbreak of COVID-19 at the QEH, as suggested in some reports on social media.”

The QEH did acknowledge a concerning trend of “more patients are presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department [AED} with symptoms of the virus”. The hospital said it would “continue to monitor trends in the community as it relates to a potential increase in COVID-19 cases”.

The statement further detailed the hospital’s proactive measures: “The AED medical team has been able to isolate suspected positive cases and offer the necessary medical intervention. This forms part of the hospital’s isolation protocol to help prevent transmission at the facility.”

The hospital urged members who believe they have contracted COVID-19 to wear a mask and inform healthcare personnel of their condition on arrival at the A&E.

The development comes amidst reports of a broader surge in COVID-19 cases across the United States. A COVID summer wave is reportedly sweeping across most of the US, with western states experiencing particularly high infection rates. Public health officials express concern that the numbers may continue to rise, citing increased summer travel and large group gatherings as potential contributing factors.

US disease watchdog Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports rising COVID-19 infections in 45 states and territories. More than half of these regions show high or very high levels of COVID in wastewater samples. The CDC attributes this increase partly to several new variants with particular mutations that make it easier for the virus to spread. COVID-19 variants mutate at a faster rate than flu, experts said.

According to the most recent CDC data, coronavirus activity in wastewater has reached levels considered “high” or “very high” in 26 states. While other metrics, such as COVID diagnoses in emergency rooms and positive test rates at labs, also indicate an upward trend, they have not yet matched the intensity of the winter surge.

The virus’ reach has extended to high-profile individuals, with US President Joe Biden entering isolation at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware after testing positive with mild symptoms last Wednesday. This development comes in stark contrast to Biden’s declaration at a July 7 campaign event in Pennsylvania, where he declared: “I ended the pandemic — he didn’t,” in reference to his predecessor, Donald Trump.

(BT)