Mayor urges residents to go ‘back to the basics’ on virus defence

BRISTOL is at a “critical point” in the pandemic with cases almost doubling over the last week, the city’s mayor warns.

Marvin Rees says the majority of people contracting coronavirus now are in their 20s, as older groups increasingly receive both doses of the vaccine.

In a Covid-19 email newsletter yesterday, he said there had been a sharp rise in new cases – 661 in the last seven days, with a case rate of 143 per 100,000 population.

“The number has almost doubled since last week and is higher than England’s infection rate of 90 cases per 100,000,” the mayor said.

“To date, 259,547 – 60 per cent – of all adult Bristol residents aged over 16 have had at least one vaccine dose. We are also starting to see people unwell with Covid-19 in our hospitals again, which is putting our health and care systems under pressure.

“However, we can drive down infection rates by remaining vigilant and getting back to basics.”

Speaking at a Bristol City Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he said: “We are at a critical point in the pandemic once again.

“Sixty per cent of these new cases are in our 20-29 age group and around 20 per cent are asymptomatic. So the virus is circulating in our communities and putting additional pressure on our NHS,” he said

“We are encouraging the city to get back to the basics – ‘hands, face, space’ – and if you’re going to meet people, wherever possible meet in fresh air where the virus struggles to transmit as effectively.

“Please make use of the testing facilities across the city for people with no symptoms of Covid-19, including rapid testing and our new walk-in site at Bristol Harbour.”

He told members at City Hall that anyone over 18 could book their vaccination which, together with regular testing, was our best defence against the virus.

“It’s great to see the successful vaccine drop-in centre at Eastville Park over the weekend,” said Mr Rees. “There will be more of that.”