Doctors Warn Of Covid Risk To Vulnerable At Christmas

Britons going home for Christmas have been warned of the dangers of Covid for vulnerable family members as more than 10,000 people could be in hospital with the virus by the end of the year.

- Thomas Kingsley

The latest NHS England figures showed there had been a 22 per cent increase in the number of people in hospital with Covid in a week. There were 6,720 people in hospital with the virus on 14 December, up from 5,501 on 7 December, according to data released by the health service.

NHS Covid doctor Dr Daniel Goyal said the jump in hospitalisations is "very concerning" and warned that the rising number of cases is exacerbating the "worst healthcare crisis that any of us have ever experienced".

"Part of the greater concern is the number of patients who are contracting Covid in hospital settings," Dr Goyal told The Independent. "What we're seeing is people picking up Covid in hospital, then being delayed from going home, adding more pressure to the service. It brings the question as to why we haven't done anything significant to try and reduce transmission."

Dr Goyal said that in the run-up to Christmas there should be stronger public health messaging about the benefits of wearing a mask in communal areas and crowded spaces. He added that the public should consider wearing masks at Christmas gatherings where vulnerable family members are present.