HEALTH bosses have implored Teessiders not to leave home unless “absolutely necessary” after Covid patients on wards reached a new height at one trust.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust is now treating 166 virus patients – with 24 people in critical care.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service also understands there have been five Covid deaths in the past 24 hours at the trust as of Monday afternoon (January 11).

Leaders are desperately warning Teessiders to behave as though they have the virus and do everything they can to stop more people catching it.

Clinical leader Dr Uwe Franke said the trust had now gone beyond the peak it saw last spring.

He added: “One in three people with Covid-19 have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it which is why I am appealing to people who do have to leave home to behave as though they have the virus and remember to wash your hands, cover your face indoors and keep your distance from others.

“The vaccine has shown the light at the end of the tunnel but to get there as quickly and safely as possible stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

The warning comes after Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the next few weeks will be the worst for the NHS before the impact of mass vaccinations is felt.

South Tees treated a peak of 152 covid patients on its wards in 2020 with 26 patients in critical care.

Dr Franke said the trust’s two hospitals, James Cook and The Friarage, in Northallerton, had been separated into green, amber and red pathways in response to the pandemic.

He added: “This is important in helping to make sure that patients with Covid receive the care they need while at the same time providing care for patients without Covid whose needs’ are equally urgent.

“Our amazing staff are working so hard but can’t do this alone – which is why it is so important for everyone to stay at home and only leave when it is absolutely necessary.”

It’s understood the trust has seen 14 covid patients “discharged” in the past day – but 22 people with the virus have been admitted.

Intensive care consultant Dr Richard Cree revealed in his latest blog that the number of critical care patients has now increased to the point where they have had to open another intensive care unit (ICU) at James Cook.

Elective surgery is continuing for now at the site – but officials are warning “two pints will not go into one glass” when it comes to wider demands being faced.

Neighbouring North Tees is also seeing rising cases on its wards.

As of Monday, the trust revealed it was treating 193 patients with the virus with 16 beds occupied in its intensive care unit at University Hospital of North Tees.

A total of 15 new Covid patients have been admitted to the trust in the past 24 hours – and North Tees officials say the ITU unit is now “pretty much full”.

Last week saw the NHS report 50 Covid deaths at Teesside hospitals.

NHS England reports Covid deaths daily after an auditing process.

They include deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England and had either tested positive for covid, or where covid was mentioned on the death certificate.

They cover Covid fatalities from 4pm two days prior to publication until 4pm the day before figures are published.