A 'significant worsening': Number of Covid patients in hospital on the Fylde coast shoots up seven-fold in just two weeks

There are now 44 patients with Covid-19 in hospital on the Fylde coast, up from 34 last week and just six two weeks ago.

Thirty-eight are on the wards at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, three are in the Vic's intensive care unit, and three are in Clifton Hospital in St Annes.

Dr Jim Gardner, the hospitals' medical director, said: "We are seeing a clear, ongoing, and significant worsening of the position as far as Covid is concerned."

Blackpool's infection rate has also almost doubled in just a week, from 91.8 per 100,000 people in the seven days to September 27 to 177.8 in the seven days to October 4, according to Public Health England data published yesterday.

Fylde's rate has increased from 121.3 to 153.5, while Wyre's has risen from 91 to 125.8.

Speaking during his weekly coronavirus briefing, Dr Gardner said the "vast majority" of people in hospital with Covid were there because of the disease itself, after last week saying some were in for other reasons.

"When we are talking about Covid-positivity, we are really talking about people for whom Covid is contributing to the reason for their hospital admission," he said.

Medics have also seen both children and pregnant women with Covid in the past week, though none were in hospital yesterday, he added.

There are also no flu patients in hospital, Dr Gardner said, which he described as a "great opportunity to get a vaccination if you are in an at-risk category, because it's a great time to get the vaccine ahead of the arrival of flu, which will inevitably happen".

Around one in three hospital workers have had the jab so far.

Hospital visitors remain banned in most cases, though wards are using iPads so patients can call their loved ones.

* The Housing Secretary this morning refused to say whether pubs and restaurants in parts of northern England will be forced to close due to an increase in coronavirus cases.

Ministers were said to be considering the new measures, according to media reports, as infection rates soar in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

Robert Jenrick said "it was not sensible" for him to speculate about the possible measures, despite being repeatedly asked.

He said: "It is correct to say the number of cases in the North West and the North East and a number of cities, particularly in the Midlands like Nottingham, are rising fast and that is a serious situation.

“We are currently considering what steps we should take, obviously taking the advice of our scientific and medical advisers, and a decision will be made shortly.

“But I’m not able to give you right now exactly what is going to happen.”

Asked if there will be an announcement linked to the hospitality trade next week, Mr Jenrick said: “We are considering the evidence. In some parts of the country, the number of cases are rising very fast and we are taking that very seriously.

“If we do have to take further steps, then obviously we will take very seriously how we can help and support those individual businesses.”

Blackpool Council said it did not know "at this stage" whether resort venues will be forced to close, with a spokeswoman saying: "Any announcement will come from the Government."

The Lancashire Resilience Forum, set up to spearhead anti-Covid efforts across the county, suggested it too had been kept in the dark.

A spokesman said: "We are awaiting further information from Government about any possible changes to restrictions."