St Helier Patient Has Died After Testing Positive For The Coronavirus


Another Wimbledon school also closes after staff member falls ill

St Helier Hospital

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A patient in their 70s has died at St Helier Hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus.

 

Health officials have said the patient was already very unwell with a number of long-term health conditions. They were the fifth patient to die in the UK.

 

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We can confirm that sadly, a patient in their seventies who was very unwell with a number of significant and long-term health conditions has passed away at St Helier Hospital. They had tested positive for Covid-19.

 

"Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patient's family and loved ones at this difficult time."

 

The hospital is in the borough of Sutton, although many people from Wimbledon are patients there. Government figures show that on March 11 there had been two reported cases of Covid-19 in Merton.

 

Ursuline Preparatory School on The Downs in Wimbledon was also closed today (March 11) after a teacher tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday.

 

Chris McGrath, the school's headteacher, sent a statement to parents explaining the school is now in the process of identifying others who may have come into contact with the infected teacher.

 

Mr McGrath said: "We have a confirmed case of Covid-19 amongst the staff in the school. This information was received late last night and I have been in communication with the relevant medical authorities since then.”

 

Wimbledon College was closed for more than a week after a member of staff there tested positive after returning from a trip to Italy.

March 11, 2020