By Leah Conway and Tatiana Zaituni –
This week over 200,000 Kirklees residents have received their first dose of the vaccine but Kirklees cases increase to be the highest in the country
Cases and Hospitalisations
71 people per 100,000 in Kirklees are testing positive over the last seven days, which has increased by 22 per cent over the last week. It makes Kirklees’ infection rate the highest in the country.
There were 316 new confirmed positive cases in Kirklees over the last week compared to last week’s 357 confirmed cases.
There are still 16 inpatients at Kirklees local hospitals over the last week, which is no change from last week.
This week there have been four COVID-19 related death in local hospitals, which is an increase of 3 deaths from the previous week
National Figures
In the last 7 days, there have been 15,514 confirmed positive cases nationwide, a further decrease of 1864 from last week’s cases. In the last 7 days, there has been 132 COVID-19 related death within 28 days of a positive test, which is down 30 compared to last week.
Remember you can receive free lateral flow at-home tests. To find out how to get yours click here.
Kirklees Council is also trialing mobile collection points. To find your closest collection point click here.
Lockdown
Lockdown restrictions were eased on 29 March but the public is urged to still ‘stay local’. The next wave of restrictions easing will be no earlier than 17 May.
Lockdown restrictions easing means that outdoor gatherings of either 6 people or 2 households will be allowed. This includes private gardens.
Outdoor sports facilities will reopen, organised sports can begin again and outdoor parent and child groups will be permitted (up to 15 Parents or guardians)
Restrictions eased this week, which allowed several services to reopen. The following venues and businesses are now able to open:
- All retail.
- Hairdressers, beauty salons and nail bars.
- Public buildings like libraries
- Outdoor hospitality like beer gardens.
- Outdoor attractions like zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas.
- Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms.
- Self-contained holiday accommodation like self-catering lets and campsites for household stays only.
Vaccinations
As of this week, a total of 34,216,087 people have received their first vaccination. Those who have accepted the second dose total is 14,532,875
Over 200,000 local people in Kirklees have had their first vaccination and over 96,000 have been fully vaccinated. If you’re 40 and over in Kirklees can book their vaccination now.
If you're aged 40 or over, or if you turn 40 before 1 July 2021, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccine.
➡️ https://t.co/95odTgmvQS pic.twitter.com/k8glGyKXhA
— NHS (@NHSuk) April 30, 2021
“There’s no room for complacency.”
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “Rates of infection have been reducing in Kirklees over recent months but they have increased in the last week and are currently the highest in England. We can’t ignore our position in the league table and the threat the virus continues to pose.
“We need to bring our infection rate down further, particularly with more restrictions now eased and people more likely to come into contact with different households. We have to work together even harder to reduce infection rates and understand that there’s no room for complacency.
“Council staff are out in the community talking to local people and businesses every day about how they can play their part to reduce the spread of the infection. We are delivering community testing for thousands of residents each week and our local contact tracing is helping to contain the spread.
“We are also working with our partners in the NHS to arrange pop-up vaccination clinics and our Community Champions are making sure everyone has the right advice and access to their vaccination. In line with restrictions lifting, we’re continuing to work closely with businesses and venues to support them to reopen safely.
“There are some simple steps we can all take to make sure we build on the progress we’ve made over the past few months and bring infections down further. There are three things I’m asking everyone to do over the next few weeks. Keep doing the basics, stay safe outdoors and get vaccinated.
“Keep doing the basics means…
“It’s safer outdoors…
“When it’s your turn, please take the vaccine…
“The pandemic has been incredibly difficult for so many reasons and has had a significant impact on everyone in some way.”
This week’s COVID-19 News:
- Transport Secretary Grant Shapp confirms ‘in the next couple of weeks’’ the NHS app will be used as the coronavirus passport for international travel. People in the UK will be able to enjoy quarantine-free travel this summer but he will soon set out further information to detail the plans.
- Reuters reported that a UK survey finds rising doubt about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. A survey found a quarter of 5,000 people believed the vaccine caused blood clots.
- All over 40s in England can now book for their vaccine.
- Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced the UK has secured 60 million more Pfizer vaccines for an autumn booster campaign.
- As cases and deaths continue to increase in India, a slough-based Charity – Khalsa Aid – has collected 200 boxes of oxygen concentrators to donate to India.
- Officer for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated it’s likely that 7 in 10 adults (68.3%) in private households have tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in the week ending 11 April.
- According to a Public Health England (PHE) study, a single dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine can cut the rate of transmission of COVID-19 by up to half.
- The Hemkunt Foundation has been taking donations to support India by sending Oxygen cylinders for COVID-19 patients. Click here to help.
