New advice issued by Dorset's public health chief amid rising covid cases

In a video posted on social media by Public Health Dorset, Director Sam Crowe said: "Cases are rising quite rapidly in both council areas, Dorset Council is now over 500 cases per 100 thousand in the past week and BCP Council is well on the way to that level as well.

"In other parts of the South West we're seeing councils with cases reaching seven and eight hundred cases per hundred thousand, so we need to do something differently and we need to understand that the situation is changing."

Mr Crowe said local hospital admissions have started to climb despite 'holding fairly steady in the last week.'

He added: "Not all of these infections are linked with schools, although we have high infection rates in school-aged children. They're now starting to affect older age groups so we're seeing infections in parents and we're also seeing this spread into older age groups and that's the concern."

"In our local system which is already really stressed, we don't have much room for manoeuvre. Any additional admissions due to covid just put more pressure on the hospital system, which is really trying hard to catch up with all of those people who have had delays to their urgent treatment during the pandemic."

Mr Crowe has asked the public to do three things to prevent cases from rising further: "Know your risk and understand that this is changing quite quickly with rising cases so think about those additional measures you can take to protect yourself and others.

"I'm asking you to act: airborne transmission is really crucial that's how the virus spreads, so think about those measures that can prevent that happening. If you're meeting indoors remember to keep doors and windows open, ventilation is really crucial. Wear a mask if you're mixing with other people you wouldn't normally mix with in enclosed indoor areas and remember the importance of distance as well.

"Finally protect, so remember lateral flow testing is really important for spotting early cases and asymptomatic cases of covid. Also, if you haven't had your vaccination or you're not up to date with your second jab, please do look out for those opportunities to get fully vaccinated."

Mr Crowe also addressed the roll out of the booster vaccination programme in Dorset asking those who have been contacted, to "please take up that opportunity."

In a final statement the Public Health Dorset Director said: "Over the next few weeks, I'm just asking you to do all you can to try to help us keep a lid on our cases.

"None of us want to go back to that situation where we saw restrictions being brought in, we've got a small window now where if we act together, hopefully we can stave off the need to bring in more serious measures further down the line. So, let's keep going thank you."