Fresh warning as Teesside starts new Covid-19 restrictions

Rising ressure on James Cook Hospital has prompted a fresh warning from a Teesside health chief as new covid restrictions kick in.

Redcar and Cleveland will be placed into “tier two” of the new system from today (Wednesday) – meaning it will be illegal for people from different households to mix indoors in the borough.

Middlesbrough will continue to see restrictions which have been in place for the past 10 days – with the exception of rules in private gardens being relaxed.

Mark Adams, South Tees Joint public health director, offered up another health warning on Tuesday – pointing to how James Cook University Hospital had opened a second inpatient ward for covid to cope with rising demand.

“We’re seeing cases in critical care and we’re seeing patients needing to be ventilated because of their illness,” added Mr Adams.

“In terms of the restrictions, I know they can be confusing and I know they can cause difficulties when applied to real life or family situations.

“In essence, they aim to enforce the hands, face and space message which has been the same all the way through to wash your hands, cover your face when you’re out – particularly when you’re on public transport, inside shops and in public buildings – and to keep your distance from other people.

“Reducing the amount of contacts you have will stop you getting infected – and if you are infected, it will stop you infecting other people.”

Mr Adams pointed to rates of covid “going up by a factor of 10” in both boroughs in the past three weeks as part of his update.

The latest data available from the NHS Dashboard shows Middlesbrough’s rolling rate between October 4 and October 10 stands at 267.4 cases per 100,000 people.

Redcar and Cleveland’s is 195.4 per 100,000 over the same period.

“It’s a significant rise and a significant concern,” said the public health chief.

“What we’re seeing in both areas is cases are everywhere – they’re all across both boroughs.

“There is no particular clustering we’re seeing and no particular settings we’re seeing which are places of concern.

“Although there are places which are potentially causing spreading to happen.”

The warning comes after it was announced Nightingale Hospitals in Sunderland and Harrogate were told to prepare to open as covid cases rise in the region.

Detailed figures from the NHS on hospital admissions by individual site have a time lag.

Regional daily admission figures for covid show there were 966 covid admissions and patients diagnoses within hospitals in the North-east and Yorkshire between October 3 and October 10.

This compares with 657 between September 27 and October 3.

Data also shows there were 40 covid admissions and diagnoses at North Tees Hospital NHS Trust between September 30 and October 6 – with 33 at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust over the same period.

Meanwhile, the regular blog of Dr Richard Cree, an intensive care consultant at James Cook, showed there were 27 covid cases in total at South Tees, with six patients requiring critical care and two on ventilators as of Sunday.

In an update, a South Tees trust spokesman said all its staff had worked phenomenally hard.

“Our experienced doctors and nurses have separated patient pathways at James Cook into three different areas,” he added.

“We have red and amber pathways, and a completely separate green pathway for patients with non-covid-related conditions who need planned inpatient surgery.

“Patients undergoing planned inpatient surgery are asked to self-isolate for 14 days prior to their surgery and also receive a covid test 48 hours before they come to hospital.”

During the first wave of covid, South Tees was treating a peak of 150 covid patients but chiefs say it had the capacity to cope with up to 400 on its site.

In the wake of cases rising again, the trust said it was “more prepared than ever” to cope.

“We know more about the virus – and our clinicians have more treatment options,” the spokesman added.

“But there is still no silver bullet that can guarantee that this awful virus will not cause more anguish and pain for families and loved ones, which is why every time you follow the hands, face, space guidance and local measures to reduce covid rates in our community, you are making a difference.”