Council make a further plea as COVID-19 positive cases rise in Southend-on-Sea

Positive COVID-19 cases and related hospital admissions are rising locally.

After seeing a fall in cases from a high of 180.8 per 100,000 on Thursday 19 November, down to 115.8 by Sunday 29 November, cases have started to rise again, with the rate at 176.4 per 100,000 as of Wednesday 9 December.

The rate in the over 60’s is around 100 per 100,000, but hospital admissions in Southend-on-Sea, and across mid and south Essex are rising. As of 4 December, there were 203 COVID cases in south Essex hospitals, up from 145 the week before, and now on par with the number of hospitalisations at the start of the pandemic in April.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health, says: “Unfortunately our rates are going in the wrong direction.

“Although our rate remains lower than some other areas locally and regionally, we are starting to see a worrying and rapid rise, and we expect to be above 200 per 100,000 by the end of the week, which would be the highest case rate we have seen locally. The percentage of people testing positive has also risen slightly and hospitals across mid and south Essex are seeing a rise in COVID admissions, which is putting a strain on the local system at a time of year when it is already busy and challenging.

“We must all remember that every positive case is a potential hospitalisation, and every hospitalisation could lead to the death of a loved one.

“We must also remember that someone can carry and spread this disease without showing symptoms. We should therefore treat other people from outside our household as a potential positive case and social distance accordingly.

“Coronavirus is still very much with us and although we know people are tired of restrictions and public health measures, we all must really continue to do the basics – so hands, face, space, and if you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested, and please remember there is financial support out there to help if you do need to self-isolate. Please also do not mix indoors with anyone outside of your household or support bubble at this time and remember the rule of six outdoors. I cannot emphasise enough how important this is to prevent the virus spreading further.”

For further information on Coronavirus and the local response, please visit the council’s website.

For trusted information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the NHS website.