The trust that runs two of Cambridgeshire’s hospitals says there was “a small rise” in covid cases last month compared with August.
But the chief nurse at the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust also explained infected patients were not deteriorating because of the virus.
Joanne Bennis said: “Patients are covid tested in line with national guidance, which only requires testing for symptomatic patients and patients who are immunocompromised
“We have seen a small rise in covid cases since August, but there has been no increase in patients deteriorating due to the virus.
She added: “Patient safety is our highest priority and we continue to closely monitor case numbers across our hospitals.
“We have no plans to change the infection control measures that we have in place.
“However, we will monitor and make decisions based on prevalence in both the community and our hospitals.”
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Staff sickness at its hospitals – which include Hinchingbrooke, in Huntingdon, and Peterborough City Hospital – went up in August, but was still lower than the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the trust that runs Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge said on Friday (October 6) it had 50 patients with covid in its care.
The booster vaccine rollout was brought forward this autumn as a precaution against the latest Omicron subvariant of covid-19, BA.2.86.
It was first identified in the UK in August, but so far only a very small number of cases have been confirmed, including 30 that were linked to an outbreak in a care home in Norfolk.
Although experts say there is currently no evidence the new strain is more likely to make people seriously ill than others in circulation, vaccination is likely to provide ongoing protection.
Dr Chris Hill, the Cambridge-based virologist, told the BBC: “It looks like our existing immunity, conferred by having been vaccinated and having caught the virus already, … that’s giving people enough protection.
“While they may catch this infection they’re not thankfully developing severed consequences with this new variant.”
There are no longer official estimates of the prevalence of covid-19 among the UK population, meaning hospital admissions are the only regular guide to possible changes in how the virus is circulating.
Those eligible for both the covid-19 and flu vaccines in Cambridgeshire are being invited to book their jabs.
This includes everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, the immunocompromised and health and care workers.
There is no need to contact GP practices directly as the NHS will issue invites directly to these groups.
It urges people to get vaccinated if they are eligible, have fresh air circulating the room at indoor meetings and practice good hygiene by washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
Face coverings are also recommended.
Those experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection should try to stay at home and avoid others.
Adults who test positive for covid-19 are advised to isolate five days.
For children and under 18s in education, the advice is to stay home for three days because this group tends to be infectious for a shorter period of time.
Covid-19 rapid lateral flow tests can be bought at some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.
Free tests are available for those with certain health conditions, as well as healthcare and hospice workers.
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