‘Booze could hamper fight against virus’

A disease control expert is warning people about the dangers of drinking alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic and is urging them to get the seasonal influenza vaccination.

A further eight cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Somerset. According to figures from Public Health England released on Tuesday (September 15), five out of six areas of the county saw a rise.

South Somerset recorded the biggest increase, with three confirmed new cases. Mendip saw two new cases, with Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset West and Taunton all seeing a single new case.

Dr Bruce Laurence, director of public health at Bath and North East Somerset Council, recently called on people in the Somer Valley to “up their game” in response to a “worrying” increase in Covid-19 cases in the area.

Now Bath councillor Dr Bharat Pankhania, inset, who is also a senior clinical lecturer in communicable disease at the University of Exeter, says alcohol and social gatherings are not conducive to good infection control measures.

The councillor, who represents Combe Down, said: “The pertinent lessons here are that we cannot drop our guard. Alcohol seems to be an issue. We need to reconsider this.

“I have had many reports of people dropping their guard when they drink alcohol. I am concluding that alcohol and social gatherings are not conducive to maintaining good infection control measures.

“I am not against meet-ups, as social creatures human-to-human interactions are important. But under the current circumstances, the combination of consuming alcohol and meeting indoors in a social place such as a pub or restaurant is making me feel very nervous. “Without knowing it, alcohol assists and is an enabler in ‘dropping your guard.’ “It is thus not a good combination to socialise, consume alcohol indoors, during this type of a pandemic.”

❝ I have had many reports of people dropping their guard when they drink alcohol.

Dr Bharat Pankhania

Dr Pankhania, who has been a consultant in communicable disease control for two decades, urged people to stay alert and continue to take this matter seriously. “Please protect yourself as much as possible,” he said.

“Please get the seasonal influenza vaccination, immediately, do not wait until later, it should be done now. This is something everyone can do to protect themselves.”