VISITING at the Countess of Chester and Ellesmere Port Hospitals is being suspended again due to increased prevalence of Covid-19.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust says the change has been made "because the health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff which remain our absolute priority."

In a statement posted on the NHS Trust's website, it said: "This applies to adult inpatients only. The existing arrangements for visiting in maternity and paediatrics will remain the same.

"The same exceptions as in the first lockdown will be put back into place, with visiting available to support patients receiving end-of-life care and deteriorating patients to see their families.

"In addition, those patients who are living with dementia, learning disability or other condition where the family or a carer can meet their need best.

"To maintain safety throughout this period a risk assessment will be completed. The restricted visiting will remain in place for an initial two-week period and will then be reviewed.

"In these circumstances one visitor will be allowed and arrangements can be made in liaison with the ward or department team.

"Our Family Support Team is available to help patients and loved ones remain in close contact by email, phone or video calls. You can contact them by calling 01244 363941 or emailing coch.familysupportteam@nhs.net."

About 200 new cases of Covid are being counted each day in the Cheshire West and Chester area at present.

The number of Covid patients at the trust has slowly but steadily risen from zero in May, to the latest available figure of 25 as of 8am on September 21.

That number is still a fraction of the 290 Covid patients who were being treated at the hospital trust at the peak of the pandemic on January 21 this year.