Everyone urged to think twice about their COVID actions
Bradford District is in a particularly critical period in the battle to beat COVID-19 and public health experts are calling on everyone to think twice about their daily activities.
Infection rates in the district in the week 5 January rose by 40% - from 199 per 100,000 population to 282 – and it is estimated that between 50 and 70% of new cases are of the new variant strain of the virus.
This is a worrying trend that we need to make sure does not follow London and other parts of the country where the new variant has really taken a hold.
Bradford Council’s Director of Public Health and Council Leader have reinforced the message from England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, who said today that the country was entering the worst weeks of the pandemic for the NHS and urged people to stay at home and stop all unnecessary contact.
Sarah Muckle, Director of Public Health, said: “The new variant is very virulent - 50% more infectious than the original strain – and we need to do everything we can to minimise its spread. Where possible people should think and act as though they have COVID-19 to reduce potential transmission.
“The virus can be passed on in any place where people from different households meet, so everyone should think twice before they leave the house. Any single unnecessary contact with someone is a possible link in a chain of infection transmission that could lead to a vulnerable person.
“While local infection rates are nowhere near as high as in other places that may just be because there is a lag in the spread of the new variant as it was first detected in the South East.
Council Leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Our health services are at a critical point as they deal with increasing numbers of COVID-related admissions to local hospitals and, at the same time, roll-out more and more vaccinations to our most vulnerable people.
“The next couple of weeks are vitally important in slowing the rapid increase of the new variant, nationally and locally.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to take all the precautions they can and help to keep our communities and our NHS safe. The more people who Stay at Home, and the more people who think carefully and focus on hands, face, space if they do need to go out, the better in the fight to conquer COVID-19.”
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