Living with Covid-19 is now the new “norm” for Bristolians, says the city’s mayor.
Marvin Rees told a council meeting that while more mutations and “flare-ups” were expected, vaccines were preventing the vast majority of people from dying from coronavirus.
The city’s current rate of infection is 1,162 per 100,000 population, above England’s average of 939, according to Bristol City Council’s email newsletter to residents on Tuesday (February 8).
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It said there had been 5,415 new cases in the previous seven days, with 177 people unwell with the virus in hospital.
Mr Rees told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday: “We have moved into a space now that we have to begin to live with Covid as though it’s the norm, so we are adjusting to a life with Covid.
“The positives are that it seems that the link between Covid and mortality has been weakened.
“People do still end up in hospital but the link has been weakened, so we are in a position where we are better able to live with it. What we do anticipate over the coming year or two is that there will be mutations, there will be flare-ups, and we will see what they are at the time.
“But now we are into the area that we asked of Bristol some time ago which was moving away from imposed restrictions and asking people to make sure they are fully aware of the principles of transmission, how the virus is transmitted, and then to adjust their behaviour accordingly to minimise risk.
“We are obviously much freer in our interactions but we know that by washing our hands, being distant with people, respecting their space and wearing face coverings in appropriate surroundings minimises the risk to you and other people.
“So we go back to that phrase we used a lot last year – we are kind, we are Bristol.
“Be kind, think about other people, particularly where they may be having anxieties.”
Eighty per cent of over-16s in Bristol have had one dose of the vaccine - a total of 348,366 residents.
Seventy-five per cent have had two doses while 58 per cent have also received a third jab.
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