EIGHT patients with coronavirus are currently receiving treatment at NHS hospitals in the Dorset conurbation – and health chiefs have warned residents must remain vigilant.

A spokesperson for the newly formed University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD), which oversees the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital, said communities should be aware that Covid-19 could be around for another year “at least”.

Across the hospitals in the trust, there were eight patients with the virus as of 3pm yesterday. None of these people were being cared for in intensive care.

The UHD spokesperson said: “It is encouraging to see elements of hospital life start to return such as visiting restrictions starting to relax and some routine services and appointments taking place. However, we must remain vigilant. Coronavirus has not gone away and could be with us for at least the next 12 months.

“Our staff continue to work incredibly hard to care for all our patients in a safe environment and we need the public’s continued support to enable us to carry on doing this.”

Over the past five days, the government’s coronavirus statistics website reported 334 new cases in Dorset, although this did involve a technical issue that meant some positive tests dating back several weeks had only just been added to the data.

Gradually, some of the restrictions in UHD’s sites are being eased although some measures are likely to remain in place for a prolonged period.

“Wearing a face covering in our hospitals remains mandatory, signs have been put up all around our hospitals advising staff, patients and visitors to walk on the left, and where to stand when waiting for lifts etc," the spokesperson said.

“There are still some visiting restrictions due to social distancing measures which we appreciate can be difficult, but it is essential to slow the spread of the infection. And we must continue to stress, if you have any symptoms of the virus or are self-isolating due to a household member, you must not come in to our hospitals.

"Across our hospitals we are responding to the changing guidelines and ensuring our staff are best equipped to care for all our patients.”