Almost 100 patients being treated with coronavirus at Croydon University Hospital

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

There are almost 100 coronavirus patients currently being treated at Croydon University Hospital.

As of Sunday there were 88 patients, with some in intensive care.

And this month, 21 Croydon residents have died after testing positive for the virus, bringing the death toll up to 422.

In the week up to December 10, the borough had a rate of 246 cases per 100,000 compared to a rate of 545 per 100,000 in Havering, London’s worst affected borough.

Croydon council’s director of public health, Rachel Flowers, has warned that an increase in cases will lead to more deaths.

She said: “We know from experience that an increase in cases means an increase in hospitalisations and ultimately, tragically it will mean an increase in deaths.

“We are already starting to see this, and this is why it is absolutely vital that we act now to reduce transmission in Croydon.

“We must all consider now whether the things we are doing – the trips and visits we are making – are really essential and whether there is any more we could all do, to help keep Croydon safe.”

Croydon, along with the rest of London, is now in Tier 3, which means pubs and restaurants have had to close.

And council leader Hamida Ali described the situation locally as ‘becoming extremely serious’.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel but it is a long way off and we cannot let our guard down now,” she said.

“It would be tragic for any more people to lose their lives needlessly to this virus just as the national vaccine programme has started to get under way.

“It is now just a week before the planned relaxations of the restrictions start for the Christmas period (23-27 December). I implore people to think really carefully before they decide to mix with people beyond their household during the Christmas period.”

Pictured top: Croydon University Hospital