The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has issued a statement after a Covid outbreak occurred at Antrim Area Hospital in Northern Ireland. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures were put in place across a small number of clinical areas as a precautionary step to reduce the risk of transmission.
The Trust also urged visitors who are feeling unwell or showing symptoms to stay away from visiting friends or relatives in healthcare settings until they have recovered.
Trust confirms measures were effective
A spokesperson for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust told Belfast Live: "Many respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, continue to circulate within our communities, and a small number of cases were successfully managed in line with our infection prevention and control processes at Antrim Area Hospital in recent weeks.
"Enhanced infection prevention and control measures were implemented in a small number of clinical areas as a precaution to minimise the risk of transmission, and protect patients, visitors and staff. These measures were effective, and the situation has now been brought to a close.
"We would like to take this opportunity to remind visitors who are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection to take appropriate precautions to help reduce the spread of infection and, where possible, avoid visiting friends or relatives in healthcare settings until they are feeling better."
Guidance for visitors and patients
The Trust added: "We continue to ask patients, visitors and staff to follow good hand hygiene practices and to adhere to infection prevention and control measures across all of our facilities. These measures help us to reduce the risk of transmission and maintain a safe environment for everyone using our services."
According to the NHS website, COVID-19 symptoms are remarkably similar to signs of other ailments, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer, the NHS says.
Signs and what to do
Signs include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body, a headache, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and feeling sick or being sick.
