The Isle of Wight’s public health director is urging people to remain ‘positive but cautious’ as the number of COVID cases per 100,000 people climbs by almost 150% in a week.
Health chiefs have revealed that only 1 COVID-positive patient is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital, with other positive cases on other wards too.
The news comes as the Isle of Wight’s COVID infection rates, hospitalisations and cases rise — and are likely to continue climbing — but the vaccination effort continues.
Speaking at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s health and social care scrutiny committee, Simon Bryant said, like the rest of the country, the Island’s infection rate is increasing.
The 7-day case rate period ending 15th July surpassed 200 cases per 100,000 people, according to government figures. An increase of almost 150% over the previous week.
Mr Bryant said more hospitalisations nationally due to the virus was obviously a concern but the key things to prevent the spread was keeping the vaccination programme up and running with recent figures showing 73% of the Island’s adult population is now fully vaccinated.
He said:
“All in all there is an increase of rates and we are likely to see that going up throughout the summer as we open up society. As we are able to mix, we will see more cases and consequently a small increase in hospitalisations.”
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Questioning the level of positivity in media coverage, Councillor Clare Mosdell was concerned the current reporting of the increase of infection rates may have a severe effect on people’s mental health and was stopping people from going out and living a normal life. She asked if more could be done to increase the levels of positivity including the fact that not as many people are being hospitalised.
Mr Bryant said the Island has seen huge changes from where we were in January and although we could be positive we still have to be cautious and sensible so we can enjoy the freedoms recently granted.
Darren Cattell, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s deputy chief executive and director of finance, said while he was by nature a very positive person he did worry that we are seeing a small increase in hospitalisations. He said:
“We have a very small number of patients with us who are Covid positive, including one patient in the ICU.
“It is something that is changing and while we should be positive we do also need to consider health aspects of the population, balanced perspective as we move forward.”
Across England, the rate of hospital admissions of COVID-19-confirmed patients increased by 61%, to 4.43 per 100,000 people in the week ending 11th July.
of course it’s increasing. So many holibobs over here. Was in Totland and the attitude of them, one even drove there 4×4 straight at me while I was walking up from the beach, I was tucked into the side and he just drove at me…. needless to say he got a mouthful of abuse. Bryant is a bit late on telling us this, it’s been like this for weeks.
” Positive but cautious ” .Sounds like a Boris mixed message.
Sounds like crap, and it is crap.
And why is he telling us, we’re not the ones holidaying to the Island.
and now all the pubs now have a completely open door policy.
It will probably get a lot worse.
Yes only yesterday was stood at the bar with half a dozen friends discussing how ridiculous it was opening pubs again like this..
Like with the ills that can occur with immigration, the Gov will do similar with any CV ‘bad news’, that will be to then pressure the media to not report the growing numbers, and to, as the Cllr has suggested, just publish the positive angle only.
The whole situation about isolation, testing etc etc put to us by the government is ludicrous. They don’t know what to do next and get different ideas everyday deciding to give then a try! Of course everyone is suffering – personally although fully vaccinated I am scared to leave my house. We did try going out for a coffee but what an uncomfortable experience. The establishment was quiet when we arrived but then started filling up with holiday makers shouting and with no thought for those around them. We used to travel a lot but I don’t think that that will return anytime soon if we have to take tests, wear masks etc
It would be interesting to know how many of those in hospital have been fully vaccinated.
Heard report yesterday, that the virus is mutating again and could bypass the vaccinations anyway, as it is learning ways to avoid it and getting round it.
Rubbish, you really should stop listening to rumour mongers no wonder your a worrier.
It was a report on Radio 4, a serious programme interviewing professional people, scientists and the like.; not rumour mongers.
Clare Mosdell? Let her keep out of it. She should be hanging her head in shame after that stables fiasco, not sticking her oar in where it’s not wanted.
Propaganda. Nothing more.
tell that to the people in hospital and suffering.