‘It’s going to get worse’
WEST LONDON HEALTH EXPERT WARNS LONDON’S CORONAVIRUS CRISIS COULD BE IN A REALLY SERIOUS POSITION OVER THE NEXT WEEK
A WEST London public health expert says if you look forward to 10 days time, London could be facing a much worse coronavirus crisis
Kelly O’Neill, Hounslow Council’s public health director, also laid out a “really frank and honest” picture of the borough’s coronavirus rates and said significantly more people in the area will die from the virus based on data currently known.
The video message, released on Friday January 8, comes as Hounslow’s weekly rate of infection reached more than 1,100 per 100,000 of the population.
The director explained how people being admitted to hospital for coronavirus was currently based on an infection rate from around 10 days ago – when the figures were “just over half our current rate”.
She added: “We have more than 200 people in West Middlesex Hospital who are Covid positive.
“We have many of those being ventilated, some of those who are in intensive care and we are having to increase the amount of activity to support the care of our residents who need that level of care.
“If we project 10 days forward, this will include some of Christmas and New Year activity, where not everybody followed the rules. We are going to be in a really serious position.
“We have to do something about it, that is why I’m being very honest and very frank with you.”
According to NHS data on the number of coronavirus patients staying in hospitals by January 5, 320 people were recorded for the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.
The trust runs West Middlesex University Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
More than 200 patients at West Middlesex University Hospital are currently being treated for coronavirus, it has been reported.
On Friday January 8, its charity CW+ renewed its appeal for donations to support staff during the crisis through its Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund.
While Ms O’Neill praised those residents following the rules and asked them to continue to do so, she sent out a strong message to people who are not.
She said: “We are all fed up of being in lockdown – I’m fed up and I’m sure all our essential workers are fed up as well.
“For those people who aren’t following the rules, stop and think. Tell me what information you need, what numbers do you need to have, in order to act?
“The number of deaths we are seeing is increasing dramatically – in December we had about 50 people die who live in our borough.
“In January, based on the data that’s reported to me by our registrar’s team, that will be significantly more.
“So tell me, what figures, what death number we need to get to for you to act? Now I know this is stark and people can complain about what I’m saying and how I’m saying it, but my role is to protect the health of the people who live in this borough.
“I cannot do it by myself. We have teams of carers, hospital doctors, people working at the council who are doing the right thing to help you, now do the right thing back and follow the rules.”