Dorset coronavirus situation ‘unlike anything seen before’

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital beds doubled in 4 days here.

Local health bosses are warning the coronavirus situation in Dorset in unlike anything seen before.

The county has seen a significant jump in case numbers and hospitalisations in the past week.

On Tuesday Dorset’s case rate was 196.6 per 100,000 people living in the county. Today it’s at 309.4.

In the same period, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital beds doubled from 135 to 272.

The situation in Dorset is changing rapidly and Dorset County Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer has previously said it may only be a matter of weeks before the hospital is in ‘difficult water’.

The situation is worse in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils said:

“What we are seeing in the county, particularly in the BCP Council area is not like anything we’ve seen before.

“The situation over the next couple of weeks is the most serious our local NHS services has faced. The growth in cases is doubling and our hospitals are already overstretched.

"The new variant of Covid-19 is known to be much more easily spread. Mixing with other households is mainly how this virus is spreading locally, putting people at risk. Above all else we must stay home so that we can protect the NHS and save lives.”