By KLTV Newsdesk
COVID-19 infection rates in Kirklees increased by 63 per cent over the last week as the council urges everyone to follow national lockdown rules to prevent the virus from spreading.
Cases and Hospitalisations
There were 1,177 new positive COVID-19 cases in the borough over the last seven days.
There were 74 Kirklees residents admitted to hospital in the last week (Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield hospitals) who tested positive for COVID-19.
Sadly, 15 patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 died in one of these hospitals over the same time period.
The latest data shows that in the last seven days 267 per 100,000 people in Kirklees tested positive for COVID-19, compared to the previous week when it was 177 per 100,000 people.
Whilst this is below the national average, there has been a sharp rise over the last seven days.
National Lockdown
The Government announced on Monday 4 January that all areas in England are now in a national lockdown, with COVID-19 rates rapidly rising throughout the country.
Earlier this week the council announced that they would be keeping community testing open to anyone who is a critical worker and doesn’t have symptoms.
This aims to identify any asymptomatic cases amongst those who still need to go out to work in communities to help keep them and their family safe.
The council recommends that key workers get tested once a week at one of the four testing sites.
Anyone in Kirklees who has COVID-19 symptoms still needs to arrange a test by calling 119 or going to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
‘Growing in Seriousness’
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “In Kirklees there were more than 1,000 new positive cases in the last week, with 74 people admitted to hospital and 15 sadly passing away.
“This rapid increase and the increased transmissibility of the new variant means we all need to play our part in preventing our situation from growing in seriousness as we have seen in other parts of the country.
“The Government’s new lockdown rules aim to do just that.
“If we all follow the rules and stay at home unless it’s essential or for exercise, we will help to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Please always remember that the basics – such as hand-washing, social-distancing, wearing a face covering and getting tested if you have symptoms – are still a key way we can all play our part.
“After all the sacrifices we’ve already made, being back in lockdown, I know, is difficult for Kirklees residents and businesses.
“This time, however, we have a vaccine that’s being rolled out so I urge everyone to keep doing what you’re doing to keep each other safe because I’m confident there is an end in sight.”
