Number of Covid patients in Sheffield hospitals falls to lowest figure in six months

This is the lowest figure since October 9, 2020 when 74 patients were being treated for the killer virus in hospitals in Sheffield

The numbers of patients admitted to the city’s hospitals for Covid-19 reached a peak of 417 on January 22 - but have been falling steadily since then.

The number of people on ventilation has also been falling since early February from a high of 41 on February 3.

However, since late March the amount of people needing mechanical support for their breathing has begun to rise again and currently stands at 10.

The overall fall in the numbers of people being treated for Covid in hospital mirrors the fall in the number of Covid cases in Sheffield.

For the seven days to April 2, Sheffield recorded 94.2 cases per 100,000 people, which equates to 551 cases in total.

This is a fall of 26 per cent on the previous week’s figure of 127.9 per 100,000 people, or 748 cases in total.

Cases had been rising in the city with the increase thought to be linked to schools reopening on March 8 and parents being relieved of childcare responsibilities.

But Sheffield’s director of public health this week said the rate dipping back below 100 per 100,000 people over seven days marked a ‘significant fall’ compared with a couple of weeks ago.

Rates are now falling in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - despite all four still being among the top ten local authorities for cases in England.

Doncaster’s rate in the seven days to April 2 was 113.5, down from 135.6 a week earlier while Barnsley’s rate is currently 110.6, down from 153.5 seven days ago.

And Rotherham, which last month had the highest case rate in England, has now fallen to 94.9 per 100,000 people, down from 168.4 a week ago.

England's 7-day coronavirus case rate was around 44 cases per 100,000 people - the lowest level in over 6 months.

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