Covid warning to BAME community after 24-year-old admitted to ICU in Darlington

His case has been highlighted as a stark warning to people to remind them to do that they can to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

On Saturday, 14 patients with the virus were admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital and four people were being treated in its intensive care unit, said Professor Ahmet Fuat, a GP at Darlington's Carmel Medical Practice and cardiology specialist.

He added extra care needed to be taken to protect people from higher risk categories, including people from the BAME community.

He said: “Coronavirus is a potentially fatal infection and everyone should be doing their bit to avoid spreading or catching the virus.

“It has not gone away and we are seeing rising numbers of cases especially in the North-East and other hot spots, with increasing hospitalisations and deaths."

“We are most certainly seeing a second wave of infection spreading across the country.”

He added: “We’re seeing worrying cases like this 24-year-old man, from the Asian community, with no previous conditions who is being ventilated after a couple of weeks of symptoms.”

Men, those with long term chronic conditions like diabetes, heart and lung disease and those from BAME communities are more likely to get serious illness, he added.

Dr Gomathy Umashankar a GP partner at Blacketts Medical Practice, said: “We now know that people of Bangladeshi origin have about double the risk of death from Covid-19 compared with the white British people.

“Other Asian, Caribbean and black people also have a higher risk of death. At the moment we don’t know why this is the case, although we do know that social deprivation plays its part. It is also true that the increase to people from the BAME community have been associated with diabetes/hypertension or Vitamin D deficiency, which might all play a part.

“As a practice, which has patients from the BAME community in its population, we are very keen to work with them to meet their needs and reduce health inequalities.

“In particular, we are concerned that since children have gone back to school, some BAME parents have been hesitant in seeking timely help for respiratory illnesses worried that they would be stigmatised with Covid-19.

“We would like to reassure parents that Covid-19 has no stigma attached to it and it is very important children receive the right care they need and other serious respiratory illnesses should not be missed.”

Councillor Sajna Ali, whose Northgate ward includes members of the BAME community, said: “We cannot afford to miss manage issues locally, it is important we stick to medical facts, “BAME communities are at a greater risk due to health issues, and we must safeguard and explain the importance of keeping our families and elders safe, many of whom are struggling to understand why we have all the isolation rules.

“Many who suffer mental health feel even more isolated especially those already in care or single housing.

“We have a duty of care to support our vulnerable where we can and we must keep the help provided for shopping and prescription collections using the volunteer services as the second wave advances.

“This is an ongoing learning curve and we need to help ourselves and those we care about by washing hands regularly, keeping our mask on and by social distancing.

“Poverty is growing and the King’s Church food bank continues to provide a valuable service with volunteers delivering to those most vulnerable. Please remember Covid does not discriminate it is real and it kills.”

Darlington Mayor Chris McEwan said “As Darlington’s first citizen I have made a great effort to thank key workers, particularly those in the NHS including primary care.

“I have also been clear that in facing this challenge we as citizens need to do our bit - whether that is complying with the guidance or, where appropriate and encouraged, getting a flu jab”

Professor Fuat advised people to avoid contact with others from outside their households as much as possible, ideally staying two metres apart and wearing mask or facial covering.

People are also advised to avoid touching their faces, mouths and eyes until they have reached home and have been able to wash their hands.

Hands should be washed frequently, with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.

Anyone who develops a new dry cough, high fever (greater than 37.8c) , loss of smell or taste, significant muscle aching should contact their GP surgery or 111 for advice and to arrange a test.

They should stay at home and isolate for 10 days wearing a mask or facial covering as much as possible, as well as drinking plenty of fluids, eating little and often and using paracetamol for fever.

Anyone experiencing significant shortness of breath should seek medical advice.

If someone in the household tests positive, the whole household should stay at home for 14 days from the date that person tested positive. This means not going to school, work, shops, supermarket or places of worship.

Food should be delivered and left on the door step and interaction with those outside your household should be minimised as much as possible.