A LEADING doctor has thanked residents across the Herald area for staying at home after confirming the trajectory of new coronavirus cases has “flattened” locally in recent weeks.
The hospital had modelled for 85 to 100 new cases a day across the North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area, including Fleet and Farnborough, peaking over the Easter weekend.
However, according to Dr Wernick, “boots on the ground” evidence suggests this number could be lower – with the peak now anticipated to be spread over a longer, less intense period of time.
This ‘flattening of the curve’ is important as it buys the NHS time to cope with the volume of cases as well as develop new vaccines and treatments.
“We wanted to flatten the curve, and it absolutely looks like that’s going to be the case,” said Dr Wernick.
“No official information has come out yet: but from the boots on the ground, the numbers are lower than they were predicting at this point, and we’re not expecting a sudden jump – but a longer, more sustained peak.
“Locally, people are respecting the lockdown measures generally very well and I think it’s working.”
Dr Wernick added Farnham is in a “really great position” because of its contingency planning for the virus – so much so that Farnham Hospital has become a central Covid-19 assessment hub for the whole of the CCG area.
This has been made possible, the GP said, thanks to the “amazing” support of Farnham Town Council, The Hedgehogs charity and Light Angels – who this week set up a new “drive-through” assessment centre at the hospital to help separate suspected Covid-19 cases from patients with other healthcare needs – as well as other volunteers and third-sector organisations.
“It is amazing, and it brings a tear to your eye just how willing and helpful people are trying to be in this situation. The normal barriers just seem to not be there at present.”