A DOCTOR from Herefordshire has said hospitals in the county are under "huge pressure" as coronavirus cases are at an "all-time peak".

Latest figures from the NHS show there were 117 coronavirus patients being treated at the Wye Valley Trust on Tuesday (January 19).

That is the highest number ever, and more than double the peak of 50 during the first wave.

Now a GP from Ross-on-Wye is warning that following the coronavirus laws is more important than ever as the new variant of Covid-19 is more infectious.

Over the last 14 days, 1,182 cases have been found in the county, Government data shows.

Alton Street Surgery GP Dr Simon Lennane, also involved with the Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust, said: "Coronavirus cases in Herefordshire are at an all time peak, with huge pressure on our local hospitals.

"Household mixing at Christmas will have played a part in this, and we are now expecting to see a reduction in cases following the subsequent lockdown.

"It has been sad to see the toll that Covid has taken on our community, with outbreaks in residential homes during the first wave making up the majority of local deaths.

"It is a tribute to the efforts of everyone who has been following the guidance that community spread has otherwise stayed relatively low.

"The new variant of Covid-19 is significantly more transmissible, so it is more important than ever to avoid close contact, wear face coverings and ensure good ventilation and hygiene.

"It is possible for people who have been vaccinated still to catch and spread Covid-19, so we need to continue with these measures until a substantial proportion of the population have been vaccinated."

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The stark warning does come amid the positive news that Herefordshire is one of the counties leading the way with coronavirus vaccinations.

The most recent NHS data available says 76.2 per cent of people aged over 80 in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have received their first vaccine.

A total of 37,609 over-80s were vaccinated between December 8 and January 17 – more than three quarters of the 49,360 people aged over 80 in both counties.

The two county's figures for the percentage of over-80s vaccinated was the third best in the county behind Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire.

Figures show Worcestershire and Herefordshire also has the best figures in the country for the percentage of under-80s vaccinated.

A total of 39,872 people aged between 18 and 79 have received their first Covid jab in the two counties – around seven per cent of the adult population.

The percentage is higher than any other part of the country, according to the NHS England figures.

A total of 77,481 people have been vaccinated in Worcestershire and Herefordshire with 1,459 receiving both vaccines.

Dr Lennane said: "GP surgeries are making excellent progress with vaccines locally, achieving the highest vaccination rates among over 80s.

"We continue to work our way down through the priority groups, and have completed the first vaccination for almost all over 80 year olds locally, as well as frontline health and social care workers."

He added: "We are now moving on to group 3 (those who are 75 and over), working down by age and currently booking 77 and 78 year olds. We are also vaccinating those housebound patients unable to get to the clinic, again working down by age.

"All the local surgeries are working closely together to deliver the vaccines. We are sticking strictly to the priority list, and will contact people as we work down through the groups.

"Vaccine supply is expected to increase as we move into February, so we should continue to make good progress.

"Huge thanks are due to the volunteers who have made the clinics run so smoothly, and to everyone who has played their part tackling this pandemic."