Rapid rise in coronavirus cases in Gateshead
Gateshead's Director of Public Health is urging residents to keep each other safe as coronavirus cases are rising more rapidly than before.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, Gateshead Council, said:
"The situation in Gateshead is changing very rapidly and what is most concerning this time is the speed at which the virus is spreading. The rate is now rising twice as fast as it was in the second wave.
Whilst we saw cases reducing during November, as the lockdown ended in December they began to climb quickly. This rise is likely to continue over the next two weeks as the impact of the Christmas period takes effect.
Our latest figures show that there were 873 new cases this week, an increase from 549 in the previous week. We have also witnessed the highest daily rates that we have seen throughout the whole of the pandemic.
We suspect that some of this increase is being driven by the new, more infectious, variant of the COVID-19 virus which is up to 70% more transmissible than the previous strain. Whilst there is no evidence that this strain is more dangerous, the real concern is how quickly it could spread to our clinically vulnerable residents and also for the further stress that this will place on our hospitals. There are now over 60 patients in the QE Hospital with covid-19, a figure which has doubled within a week. With such a rapid rise in cases, this will only get worse in the short term.
The best way of keeping each other safe is to continue to follow the measures that we have been asking of you all year. Minimising contact with others is key to halt the virus and the best way to do this is to stay at home as much as possible, leaving home only when it is absolutely essential. When outside please go back to the basics of washing your hands regularly, keeping people at distance and wearing a face covering when you can. This is the best defence from the virus.
In the last month we have had the good news of the approval of two vaccines (opens new window) in the UK which is hugely positive and brings significant hope to us all. Thanks to the amazing efforts of our NHS partners we now have vaccination sites operational in Gateshead and our priority must be to ensure that our most vulnerable are protected as soon as is possible. To date over 4,000 vaccinations have been given in Gateshead.
After a difficult 2020, nobody wanted to enter a New Year under additional restrictions but by sticking to restrictions we can support our NHS to get this virus under control. We thank all our residents for the continued sacrifices they are making."
For more information on the national lockdown (opens new window)
Gateshead's Director of Public Health is urging residents to keep each other safe as coronavirus cases are rising more rapidly than before.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, Gateshead Council, said:
"The situation in Gateshead is changing very rapidly and what is most concerning this time is the speed at which the virus is spreading. The rate is now rising twice as fast as it was in the second wave.
Whilst we saw cases reducing during November, as the lockdown ended in December they began to climb quickly. This rise is likely to continue over the next two weeks as the impact of the Christmas period takes effect.
Our latest figures show that there were 873 new cases this week, an increase from 549 in the previous week. We have also witnessed the highest daily rates that we have seen throughout the whole of the pandemic.
We suspect that some of this increase is being driven by the new, more infectious, variant of the COVID-19 virus which is up to 70% more transmissible than the previous strain. Whilst there is no evidence that this strain is more dangerous, the real concern is how quickly it could spread to our clinically vulnerable residents and also for the further stress that this will place on our hospitals. There are now over 60 patients in the QE Hospital with covid-19, a figure which has doubled within a week. With such a rapid rise in cases, this will only get worse in the short term.
The best way of keeping each other safe is to continue to follow the measures that we have been asking of you all year. Minimising contact with others is key to halt the virus and the best way to do this is to stay at home as much as possible, leaving home only when it is absolutely essential. When outside please go back to the basics of washing your hands regularly, keeping people at distance and wearing a face covering when you can. This is the best defence from the virus.
In the last month we have had the good news of the approval of two vaccines (opens new window) in the UK which is hugely positive and brings significant hope to us all. Thanks to the amazing efforts of our NHS partners we now have vaccination sites operational in Gateshead and our priority must be to ensure that our most vulnerable are protected as soon as is possible. To date over 4,000 vaccinations have been given in Gateshead.
After a difficult 2020, nobody wanted to enter a New Year under additional restrictions but by sticking to restrictions we can support our NHS to get this virus under control. We thank all our residents for the continued sacrifices they are making."
For more information on the national lockdown (opens new window)
