By Daniel Wood
Rates of Covid-19 infection have been cut by 29 per cent across Kirklees.
However, the rate is still above the national average. So, people still need to be wary of their surroundings.
Lockdown measures were tightened in Kirklees after a government announcement on Thursday night.
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, strategic director for Public Health at Kirklees Council, said: “Thanks to the efforts of everyone in Kirklees, the local data shows that our rates of Covid-19 infection have dropped by 29 per cent over the last seven days.
However, our rates still remain above the national average and we need to continue to bring them down further.”
She also stressed that if we become complacent, then a second wave is a possibility. Continuing to social distance, wash hands regularly and getting tested if you have symptoms are still heavily recommended.
Other measures that have been put forward include banning people from holding events that could attract a crowd of more than 30 people.
In regards to the restrictions that were announced on Thursday, Ms Spencer-Henshall said: “I can completely understand the disappointment this will cause, particularly with our rates decreasing again this week, and we are speaking with the government to understand more about this decision and how we can get these freedoms back as quickly as possible.”
Over the course of the pandemic, 544.1 people per 100,000 residents have tested positive for coronavirus.
In the past week, 19.8 people per 100,000 residents tested positive in Kirklees. This figure is much better than the week prior, which saw the rate rise to 28.0 people per 100,000.
The current national rate is 8.0. The current West Yorkshire rate is 22.2.
However, comparing the numbers of Kirklees to Calderdale reveals a big difference.
Calderdale’s coronavirus infection rate has shot up by 62 per cent from last week.
Their seven-day infection rate jumped from 24.3 new cases per 100,000 residents to 39.5 after 83 new cases were confirmed in the district in the week up to July 31. This is around 62 per cent increase.
Liversedge went into a local lockdown on Friday at midnight after the area displayed a spike in positive cases.
Councillor David Hall said the reason behind the spike in cases was because people have been ‘ignoring the rules’.
It is understood that if nothing improves in Liversedge, then it would be challenging to ease restrictions throughout the whole of Kirklees.