Hundreds of people caught Covid-19 in Welsh hospitals over the Christmas period to put more pressure on NHS services, it has been revealed. According to Public Health Wales (PHW) data 178 patients "definitely" caught the virus in hospital, while a further 73 "probably" did, over the seven days to December 25 to bring the total to 251.
In the lead-up to Christmas it was not uncommon for more than 300 patients to be diagnosed with hospital-acquired Covid, also known as nosocomial infections, over the course of a week. At the start of November this figure was much lower at around 50 to 60 cases, but in the last fortnight the country has seen a notable spike.
In fact, the statistics show that more people are currently catching the virus in Welsh hospitals than they are in their communities. For the week to December 25 141 people were reported to have acquired Covid in their communities - more than 100 less than in hospital settings. However, the figures should be taken with caution as far fewer people are now testing for Covid in their own homes as symptoms are typically milder.
