Covid-19 spreading fast in Brighton warns health chief

Brighton City Council public health consultant Dr Katie Cuming urged people to stay at home where possible and avoid large gatherings of any kind to curb the rising infection rate in the city.

This includes New Year's Eve parties which she warned could become Covid "super-spreader" events.

A quiet morning scene outside Churchill Square in Brighton with the city under Tier 4 restrictions

Her comments come after a last-minute Downing Street press conference from Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night confirmed that 22 million more people would face the toughest government restrictions from today.

Areas including parts of the North East, North West, South West and Midlands have now joined Sussex in Tier 4 as the government looks to halt the growing number of Covid-19 cases reported across England.

Brighton and Hove will remain in Tier 4.

• READ MORE: Millions more face stringent Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions in England

In the city, there were 915 confirmed new Covid-19 cases in the week leading up to December 17.

This marked a 50 per cent rise on the figure from the week before.

It was equivalent to a weekly rate of 314 new cases per 100,000 residents.

This was lower than the rate for England, which was 402 per 100,000, and the South East, which was 492 per 100,000.

Non-essential retailers such as this H&M store in Brighton must stay shut under Tier 4 restrictions

Dr Cuming said: "The new variant is much more transmissible than the previous one.  

"You are at higher risk of catching Covid if you spend time in close contact with someone with the virus, than you previously were.

“About 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 have absolutely no symptoms and will be spreading the virus without realising.

• READ MORE: Interactive 'heat map' shows the areas of Sussex, and Brighton and Hove, with the highest Covid rates

“The latest and best advice is for us all to act like we’ve got the virus. 

“We must all avoid large gatherings of any kind, not mix indoors with households who are not in our support bubble and, when we’re indoors, let fresh air in.

“This year it is so important not to meet up with people outside of your household or your support bubble to mark new year.

Western Road in Brighton, on the morning of the fifth day of Tier 4 restrictions

“New year’s parties and gatherings at this time could be Covid "super-spreader" events, leading groups of people to catch the infection and potentially become seriously ill, resulting in the loss of more lives."

Dr Cuming also warned that demand for all NHS services across Sussex has risen significantly in recent weeks.

This was due to a combination of "the annual pressures that come with winter and the additional challenge of higher infection rates of COVID-19 in the community in recent weeks". 

• READ MORE: Poll shows majority of people think tighter Covid restrictions are needed in Sussex

“Staff across the NHS are working tirelessly to ensure they continue to provide safe, consistent care and roll out the Covid-19 vaccination programme," she said.

“Please help them by following all the guidance to reduce the spread of Covid-19.  

“See in 2021 safely and smaller this year. Celebrate New Year's Eve and the new year at home."