B&NEs with the Royal United Hospital, have released a public health video warning about the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the hospital.

Earlier this week the hospital stopped general visits unless under certain circumstances, such as a partner being at the birth of their child.

In the message, released on social media, the hospital urges people to help drive down numbers of coronavirus locally.

On another social media site, someone who had been able to visit their relative at the Royal United Hospital this week said they were told by a nurse that there are currently 75 people in the hospital with coronavirus.

But this has not been verified by Nub News.

Meantime residents in Bath and North East Somerset are being urged to keep protecting themselves and others by continuing to limit social contacts when the lockdown measures are lifted next week.

Bath & North East Somerset will be in tier 2 from Wednesday December 2 under the government's new tier system. Until then the national lockdown restrictions remain in place. Tier 2 is much stricter than prior to lockdown and the government will be reviewing all tiers again by December 16th.

Dr Bruce Laurence, Bath & North East Somerset Council's Director of Public Health, said: "We now know we will be in tier 2 and also how we can mix at Christmas. Many businesses can now reopen and we can plan to share this special time of year with loved ones and friends.

"But I urge people to use these opportunities carefully and sparingly. Covid-19 kills and it will continue to take every opportunity to spread. Like other respiratory viruses it looks forward to winter and the festive season as much as we do so we must all work together to drive the numbers down.

"Please be very cautious about exposing older relatives or those with long term illnesses to large numbers of people any of whom might be spreading the virus without even knowing it. This will protect the people we love and also the health services they depend on. The RUH and other hospitals in the region are already very hard pressed and staff who are working so hard at the end of a relentless and punishing year are in desperate need of a rest, or at least some protection from another possible onslaught."

The tag line for the new social message from the RUH is : "Covid-19 kills. All ages can catch it, anyone can spread it and together we must drive the case numbers down. "