Dorset in middle of second peak of coronavirus
Dorset's Director of Public Health says it's being caused by the Omicron variant known as BA2
Last updated 31st Mar 2022
Levels of support in dealing with Covid will be downgraded locally, as elsewhere, from April 1st.
Dorset director of public health Sam Crowe says the change of tack comes as the area is in the middle of a second peak of coronavirus, caused by a Omicron variant known as BA2.
He describes the current outbreak as “a bit bumpy” and is predicting a peak in hospital admissions in the first and second week of April, with a decline in infection rates following that.
He told the Dorset health and wellbeing board on Wednesday that since the end of the first week in March there has been a higher peak, especially in the Dorset Council area with infection rates at over 1,300 per 100,000 people – similar to the rest of the South West.
Mr Crowe told councillors that Dorset has 254 people in hospital as a result of the current outbreak, some of them testing positive while in hospital for other reasons; but he said fewer are needing oxygen support which he described as “really, really good news.”
The meeting heard that with around 11 per cent of local NHS staff off sick (almost 700 ) and with high numbers of people in hospitals waiting to be discharged where there was no package of care, or residential care in place, staff were continuing to be under great pressure.
Dr Forbes Watson from the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group said the situation was disrupting NHS services across the board and welcomed the advice of “take precautions even though you don’t need to.”
Mr Crowe said the Government strategy is now ‘living with covid’ which will mean an end to contact tracing and the end of free lateral flow and PCR testing with an emphasis now on protecting the most vulnerable, including those in care settings.
He said patient- facing employees and those in adult care will still be able to access testing along with a range of other settings including prisons, supported living establishments and residential care for children with disabilities and other significant needs.
He said that from April 1st the general advice is to stay at home if feeling unwell, rather than seeking a test – “don’t go out and spread it about,” he said.
Mr Crowe said his public health teams will continue to offer support in managing local outbreaks to some settings, but the level of support would be scaled back although the situation will continue to be reviewed, working with local partners.
He said that Dorset’s vaccination rates were good, which had helped the situation, with a programme now underway for a fourth jab for the over 75s and children aged 5-11 who are clinically vulnerable.