Northern Ireland

Southern trust suspends all hospital visits amid coronavirus outbreak

Craigavon Area hospital is at the centre of a major health service investigation after the deaths of several patients were linked to a Covid-19 outbreak. Picture by Hugh Russell
Craigavon Area hospital is at the centre of a major health service investigation after the deaths of several patients were linked to a Covid-19 outbreak. Picture by Hugh Russell Craigavon Area hospital is at the centre of a major health service investigation after the deaths of several patients were linked to a Covid-19 outbreak. Picture by Hugh Russell

The Southern health trust is to suspend all hospital visits following a coronavirus outbreak at Craigavon hospital.

The trust is suspending visits from 6pm today.

Only birthing partners and people visiting terminal patients will be allowed to see loved ones. These visits will be limited to one hour a day and visitors must wear PPE.

The trust said the move was "to protect visitors, patients and staff given the increased level of COVID-19 currently circulating in this area".

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Craigavon Area hospital is at the centre of a major health service investigation after the deaths of several patients were linked to a Covid-19 outbreak.

Four people died after being infected with coronavirus in the hospital's haematology ward.

John Fleming (79) was among the four patients who died.

Mr Fleming, who had been admitted to Craigavon for observation while undergoing a new treatment for his blood cancer, had been due to be discharged just "a day or so" after he was infected.