Norfolk NHS statement, in full

Melanie Craig, Executive Lead, Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care Partnership, said: “Like areas across the country, the virus is now having a major impact upon local services the NHS delivers and its ability to provide all the operations, diagnostic tests and out-patient appointments, as well primary care provided treatments and on-going patient support. The situation is very challenging. This wave and the new variant are affecting Norfolk and Waveney much more than the first wave.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 over the last few weeks and this number has continued to rise.

“Over the summer and autumn, local teams have worked tirelessly to maintain services across our hospitals and we will continue to maintain as much cancer, emergency and urgent care as possible throughout this current wave of the pandemic. We will also continue to run outpatient clinics as virtual appointments as much as possible.

“We have local plans and procedures in place, including additional surge capacity, for responding to the increasing demands on the NHS.

“The best thing we can all do to protect ourselves; our families and our communities is to remember - Hands, Face, Space.”

A simple message:

Covid spreads easily. Every time someone leaves their home, this creates new opportunities for spread of the virus. We are therefore encouraging people to keep these opportunities to a minimum by

1. Staying in as a priority
2. Avoiding unnecessary journeys
3. Avoiding mixing with other households
4. Shopping in a way that results in fewer people in the shops and on fewer occasions
5. Doing more to ventilate and clean homes.
6. Staying local for exercise – this means in your own village, town, or part of the city.

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for older adults  look here