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Bristol ‘at most critical point yet’ in fight to tackle Covid
The coming weeks and months will be “absolutely critical” in the fight to stem the spread of coronavirus while vaccinations are rolled out.
Issuing a stark warning about the seriousness of the current situation, Bristol’s director of public health highlighted concerns about the growing rate of people testing positive for Covid-19 and danger posed by the more infectious strain.
Christina Gray said there have been just over 900 positive cases in the last week, with approximately 300 people currently being treated for the virus across Southmead Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary and Weston General Hospital.
is needed now More than ever
The positivity rate in the city has rocketed to 13.8 per cent – up from four per cent at best after the last peak. This indicates the percentage of those tested for coronavirus who test positive and the higher the rate, the more efficiently the virus is circulating.
“I’m not alone in saying this is probably the most critical point we have been at,” said Gray, speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The city’s director of public health said a number of factors are contributing to current concern, including fatigue at the longevity of the pandemic affecting compliance, winter pressures on hospitals and NHS staff, Covid deniers, the spread of misinformation and the new variant.
She acknowledged the ongoing pandemic is “grim” and a situation most people have found difficult to deal with.
Christina Gray says the coming weeks and months will be “absolutely critical” – photo by Martin Booth
Speaking about the new variant of the virus, Gray said: “We don’t have any evidence that it is more lethal in itself but, because of its greater infectivity, it will infect more people and therefore more people will become seriously ill and more people will die. It’s as brutal as that this virus.”
The director of public health said of the 300 patients currently being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, around ten per cent are in intensive care – a lower percentage that during the first wave as treatments and recognition of symptoms have improved – but pressures remain with hospitals having to create space to treat people with coronavirus, while desperately trying to keep routine appointments going.
She confirmed Ashton Gate is due to open soon as a vaccination site, with first priority given to health and social care professionals. This will operate on an invitation basis.
Gray added: “We have to get this vaccine out so the next few weeks and months so it’s going to be whether enough of us can keep the social contract together to hold this to keep this at bay and get the vaccine out.
“If the NHS system crumbles, we won’t have those staff to get the vaccine out.”
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