Ambulances were seen queueing outside hospitals including the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and Queen s Hospital in Romford, both in east London, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, om Tuesday, and a junior doctor in the capital said his his hospital was aggressively overstretched by Covid-19 patients.
Prime minister Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of the government s Covid-19 Operations committee on Tuesday evening, when changes to the tier system were discussed.
With case rates rising in all regions of England, as well as the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, any review is likely to involve areas moving up a tier rather than down.
I am a resident here and up until a few weeks ago we were Covid-19 free, what else can I say.
A big thank you to all the staff at the Great Hospital who have gone above and beyond in their care.
Diane Schultz
Loddon branch of Co-op
My thanks go to all the staff at the Loddon Co-op. They are always well organised and have made us safe as possible. But more importantly the staff are so kind and helpful. Having a shop like this has definitely made life easier for the people of Loddon at this difficult time. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and cheerfulness.
The number of coronavirus deaths at Norfolk s hospitals has passed 600
- Credit: Archant
The number of people to have died at Norfolk s hospitals after contracting Covid-19 has passed 600.
And latest figures show that around 100 more beds are being occupied by coronavirus patients than during the first wave of the pandemic.
As of December 27, a total of 603 patients had died having been admitted to the county s hospitals.
The data, which includes the Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust, shows a distinct rise in deaths at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) since mid-November.
By November 13, 129 people had died at the county s largest hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, but that figure has now jumped to 209 - a 62pc rise.
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Picture: Nick Butcher
- Credit: Archant
An inquest has opened into the death of a former firefighter who died in hospital earlier this month.
Daniel Gallagher, 64, a former firefighter from Hall Road in Framingham Earl, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on Wednesday, December 16.
On Wednesday, December 30 an inquest opened into his death at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich.
The inquest heard that it is believed he was exposed to asbestos during his employment as a fireman, resulting in, according to a post-mortem examination, sepsis of unknown aetiology and malignant mesothelioma.
Clap for Carers at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in April.
- Credit: Archant
The spread of coronavirus means 2020 has been a year like no other - and it is one many people would like to forget.
But, amid the horrors of this lethal pandemic, which has affected every one of us, there have been moments to illuminate the gloom.
There have been times when the spirit of people in Norfolk has triumphed in the face of this killer virus, where kindness and generosity have cast away the shadows.
This became clear in the early days of the pandemic, when people realised just what an impact Covid-19 was going to have on one of the UK s most cherished and valued institutions - the NHS.