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The UK’s COVID-19 hotspot should have tighter shutdowns and school closures to reduce spiraling cases, the Hull NHS chief said.
Hull in East Yorkshire became the worst-hit area in England this week, as infection rates soared to more than 700 per 100,000 people.
This weekend, around 180 people are being treated at Hull Royal Infirmary for COVID-19, and the numbers are expected to increase significantly in the next two weeks.
Dog walker Suzie Nichols, with her partner Pete, said people are not abiding by current lockdown rules.
Chris Long, CEO of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, told Sky News: “We are at the next point in our growth plan, so we are reassigning staff from other departments.
“There are still people who think that COVID is some kind of massive hoax or that it is just the flu … it is definitely not a hoax and the number of deaths we are experiencing is proof of that.”
In the first two weeks of November, 50 people died at the Royal Infirmary.
“We need to seriously consider blocking restrictions much more stringent than we have in place,” Long added.
“We are seeing very high transmission rates around us and that is because, despite the blockade, many people continue with their normal lives.”
Long said that meant he would like schools to be closed for a short period to try to reduce transmission.
Cases in Humberside have skyrocketed recently, making Hull the UK’s COVID-19 hotspot
“I’m afraid it would have to, and in other parts of the country,” he said.
“The actions we take now are the ones that will prevent the spread and this means more restrictions.”
Jason England, who works in the food industry in Hull, told Sky News: “There are people on the extremes – some people are really paranoid about it and some are just laissez faire … almost a little drunk about all of this.
“I think people want to do the right thing, but people are struggling to keep going.”
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Dog walker Suzie Nichols said: “I still see people without masks and in larger groups than they should.
“I think we will come to the end of this lockdown and we will be at the highest level and it will continue.”
Cynthia Asakapa, who works as a radiographer at the city’s main hospital, also participated in her daily exercise in the high winds around Hull Marina.
She told Sky News: “We are working very hard to lower those rates, but everyone needs to stay up to date on hygiene, wearing masks, etc., all the things that we know we should do.
“I know it is tempting to visit your family, I would love to go visit my family in London, but we have to do this, keep the faith that we can do this and lower these levels.”
