No visitors are allowed at Kingston hospital after the government introduced new restrictions to stop spread of coronavirus yesterday evening.

Kingston Hospital Trust also saw its first coronavirus death yesterday (March 23).

Today, (March 24) Kingston Hospital Trust announced that they will no longer be allowing visitors to any of the adult inpatient wards in response to the latest guidance.

This is to keep patients and staff safe after the government said people should not be leaving their homes, other than for essential shopping, to exercise once a day, to travel to work if absolutely necessary, or for any medical need.

However, there are exceptions for visitors if a patient is receiving end-of-life care, for patients who are under 16, and for women in labour in the maternity unit.

Child patients are allowed one visitor at a time and women in labour are allowed one birthing partner.

A statement on the trust’s website said: “We kindly ask family members to instead keep in touch via telephone or video calls, where possible.”

A spokesperson for Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said in a seperate statement that the first Covid-19 patient at the hospital had died:

“Sadly, we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and had tested positive for COVID-19, has died.

 “The patient who died was aged 77, and had underlying health conditions.

 “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this difficult and distressing time.”