A COVID-19 outbreak at Basildon Hospital has seen several staff and patients test positive for coronavirus.

Eight patients and 13 members of staff on the respiratory wards have all tested positive for Covid-19.

Hospital bosses insist there are “robust infection prevention” in place, while non Covid-19 patients from the ward have been moved elsewhere in the hospital.

The positive tests come outside the specialist Covid unit at Basildon Hospital, which will treat Covid patients from Southend and Broomfield hospital.

In an email to all county councillors, which was seen by the Echo, John Spence, in charge of health and adult social care, said: “An outbreak of Covid-19 has arisen in the respiratory ward (not the intensive care ward) at Basildon Hospital.

“Our Director of Public Health is satisfied that the outbreak is being tightly controlled and managed.

“Basildon MPs are being advised by the NHS.

“While I appreciate that this will cause concern, I would stress that the outbreak is under close control.”

A spokesman from the mid and south Essex Hospital Trust said: “We can confirm that eight patients and 13 members of staff in the respiratory ward at Basildon Hospital have tested positive for Covid-19.

“We have robust infection prevention and control measures in place to manage these issues swiftly and continue to follow national guidance.

“Non-covid patients from the ward have been moved to appropriate alternative wards and the small number of staff affected are self-isolating, with all potential contacts traced and informed.

“This has not impacted any of our other hospital services and patients should continue to attend their appointments wearing a face covering, maintaining social distancing and regularly wash their hands as they would normally.”

The Mayor of Basildon, David-Burton Sampson, defended the hospital following a recent visit. He said: “It’s very worrying and it proves just how real the virus is.

“It also shows how quickly it can spread. I’m confident this outbreak is not because of a lapse of procedure.

“There are different zones in the Covid specific ward depending on the seriousness of the symptoms. There are a lot of procedures they have in place.

“It shows how serious this and it won’t be going away until we have a vaccine.”