By Tatiana Zaituni
Rates of COVID-19 infection have continued to rise over the last week in Kirklees – with numbers increasing again both in the borough and across the wider Yorkshire region.
In the last seven days, 100.5 per 100,000 people in Kirklees tested positive for COVID-19, compared to last week when it was 92.5 per 100,000 people.
The increase mirrors trends across Yorkshire and the rest of England over recent weeks and comes despite the additional local restrictions Kirklees has been placed under since summer.
For West Yorkshire as a whole, 85 areas in the country have had seen 10 or more positive cases in the last two weeks.
All the latest data on Coronavirus cases in Kirklees can be viewed via the official online dashboard.
Current Restrictions
Local restrictions are still in place across the whole borough which means that, in addition to the national restrictions, in Kirklees, you cannot:
- Meet or host people you do not live with in private homes or gardens unless they are in your support bubble.
In addition to these restrictions, the Government advises that you should not:
- Socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue. This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas. Examples of public venues include pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks.
- Visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.
Local Lockdown
Kirklees along with Calderdale and many parts of West Yorkshire have been under some form of local restriction since the summer, and there has been no official word on when such restrictions might be lifted.
In an interview with ITV Calendar, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was unable to give an answer as to whether or not the restrictions in West Yorkshire were actually working.
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “Rates of infection are continuing to rise across the country. Our figures are not as high as number of other areas, but it doesn’t mean we are where we need to be.
“In Kirklees, we are well above the national average, which means we have to take this seriously and do everything we can to keep each other safe.
“Nationally, as well as locally, we are at a crucial point of the crisis, and with more people being admitted to hospital again across the country, it is everyone’s responsibility to follow all the latest national and local guidance so we can bring rates back down.
“The local restrictions in place in Kirklees mean you cannot meet or host people you do not live with in private homes or gardens, unless they are in your support bubble. A large number of other areas are now having these same restrictions introduced and it’s important we all follow them to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Remember, the best way to beat the virus is to wash your hands regularly, make sure you socially distance, avoid crowds, wear a face covering and get a test and isolate if you have symptoms.”