Sent by Dorset CCG, the letter states the most important action people can take is staying home. It has been signed by a number of medical professionals, including Sam Crowe, director of Public Health Dorset, Dr Alyson O’Donnell, chief medical officer at the University Hospitals Dorset Trust and Dr Forbes Watson, chair of Dorset CCG. It comes as figures yesterday revealed 204 people were admitted to Dorset hospitals with coronavirus between December 28 and January 3. As of January 5, 272 people were in hospital with the virus, 20 of which required mechanical ventilation. The letter says:
We need your continued help, now.
As set out in the Prime Minister’s announcement our NHS services are under great pressure.