Christmas could be 'dangerous time' amid coronavirus pandemic, health boss warns
A Black Country health boss has warned Christmas could be a "dangerous time" which could prove "fatal" during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell Council's director of public health, said "although the future is bright we still have a lot of immediate dangers".
But she has welcomed the vaccine roll-out, which started in the region, this week – calling it a "big relief".
However, as the coronavirus vaccination begins, and as rates fall and people begin to see an end to pandemic she warns the coming months could be the most dangerous.
More Covid-19 coverage:
She said: "“The vaccinations are what we’ve been waiting for. The near future of us is, on the one hand, really hopeful.
"Vaccinations are and always were our route out of this. So it’s really exciting and a big relief that the vaccination is now on the horizon.
“But my feelings are also that we have a period to get through first so although the future is bright we still have a lot of immediate dangers in our midst.
“Christmas will be a particularly dangerous time and it may lead to some people dropping their guard, which in some cases will prove fatal.
Supporting
“So it’s a mixture of feelings that the future is full of hope with the vaccine roll-out but we have what may be the most dangerous period of the whole pandemic to come.”
Dr McNally says while continuing to prevent the virus’s spread, councils will be supporting the NHS’s vaccination program. That includes continuing to communicate with local communities, faith groups, schools and voluntary sector organisations on how people can protect themselves.
She adds: “They are going to be really important partners in making sure everyone understands how crucial it is that they take this opportunity to be vaccinated.
“People hope that 2021 will not be be a repeat of 2020, however before we get there, before we get to the level of immunity in society we need, we have a dangerous period ahead of us to get through, particularly Christmas and period just after.
“We are all bracing ourselves for that and we expect it to be very, very busy.”
Her warning is simple – it’s not over yet, don’t drop your guard, keep doing what you’re doing to remain safe.
She says she can remember the name of the first victim in the borough – she can recall the time, date, where she was and how she felt when she was told of the woman's death. Dr McNally said it was the only time she allowed herself to fear the coming pandemic – not for herself but her mother who at 86 is in the most vulnerable group.
Since then more than 500 people have died in Sandwell, 13,098 people have tested positive and in July infections rates in borough were among the highest in England.
