Coronavirus: Southern Trust has no plans to use hotels for patients

Coronavirus screening at Craigavon Hospital.

The confirmation follows news that a Belfast city centre hotel is to be used to care for coronavirus patients who have been discharged from hospital.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the Southern Trust confirmed that at present, hotel use for coronavirus patients is not being considered by the Trust.

“This hotels as a step down option is not currently part of our plans to manage COVID-19 patients,” said the spokesperson.

“We will be using a range of non-acute hospital and community options to manage patients requiring support.”

It is understood that whilst a patient may be over the worst of the illness, they may still feel mentally and physically exhausted.

These options will allow patients who require it to recuperate while still being cared for by a range of healthcare workers.

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