Since the lifting of all government-enforced coronavirus restrictions at the end of last month, local case numbers, as well as those at a national level, have started to rise.
At the time of writing, the latest figures have revealed that more than 1,100 people in the region are now testing positive for Covid-19 each day. This is a significant increase on the previous week, when the daily number of local positive test results stood at around 560.
The increase, which has also resulted in more people needing to be admitted to hospital, has led to calls for people not to become complacent, and to remember to wear face coverings and observe social distancing wherever possible.
Gill May, Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “Covid-19 is still very much with us, and these latest figures show it is still causing misery for hundreds of people in our region, as well as adding significant pressure to our already-stretched health and care services.
“We can all help to reduce the spread of coronavirus by remembering the lessons of the last two years and acting in a way that keeps ourselves and those around us safe.
“That means continuing with mask wearing and social distancing wherever possible, but especially in hospitals and GP practices, staying home and away from others when showing signs of Covid-19 and getting all necessary doses of the coronavirus vaccine.”
Currently, the region’s three large acute hospitals – the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Great Western Hospital in Swindon or Salisbury District Hospital, are caring for more than 170 people with Covid-19.
While this figure is not yet as high as at other times during the pandemic, it has risen sharply in the last few weeks, and is one of the reasons why coronavirus safety measures remain in place in all local health settings.