By Leah Conway and Tatiana Zaituni
This week there were no COVID-19 related deaths across Kirklees and more than 192,000 people have had their first vaccination.
However, the COVID-19 infection rate has increased and is among the highest across the country. As restrictions ease, remember to remain cautious and follow the guidelines.
Cases and Hospitalisations
75 people per 100,000 in Kirklees are testing positive over the last seven days, which has increased by 6 per cent over the last week. The national average is 28 per 100,000
There were 330 new confirmed positive cases in Kirklees over the last week compared to last week’s 308 confirmed cases.
There were 16 inpatients at Kirklees local hospitals over the last week, which has dropped from 21 people last week.
This week there have been no COVID-19 related deaths, which is down from one death from the previous week
National Figures
In the last 7 days, there have been 18,118 confirmed positive cases nationwide, a further decrease of 1686 from last week cases. In the last 7 days, there has been 187 COVID-19 related death within 28 days of a positive test, which is down 39 compared to last week.
Lockdown
Lockdown restrictions were eased on 29 March but the public is urged to still ‘stay local’.
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.
Kirklees Town centres returned to life across the borough. Check out how the town centres are holding up here.
Vaccinations
As of this week, a total of 32,574,221 people have received their first vaccination. Those who have accepted the second dose total is 8,931,547
Over 192,000 local people in Kirklees have had their first vaccination. If you’re over 50 you can book your vaccine now.
“Playing your part”
As restrictions ease, locals are still being urged to follow the government guidelines, to test for COVID-19 regularly.
Remember you can receive free lateral flow at-home tests. To find out how to get yours click here.
Kirklees Council is also trialling mobile collection points. To find your closest collection point click here.
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “It’s really great to see restrictions lifted this week and for more businesses and venues to be able to open again. We’ve been able to get to this point because of the fantastic efforts you are all going to, and the more than 192,000 Kirklees people who have now had at least their first vaccine dose.
“Our infection rate needs to drop further and fast because it’s still significantly above the national average and increased over the last week. Our infection rate is likely to be higher than many other areas because of the types of industries we have in Kirklees and the number of people leaving their home each day to work.”
She added: “With the easing of restrictions, it’s now much more likely for us to come into contact with people outside our household or bubble. We need to remember that the virus is still spreading in our communities and if we are not careful, we risk our numbers rising again.
“There’s a really important role we all have to play in making sure we keep our numbers down so we can get Kirklees through the national roadmap out of lockdown and back to normality.
“There’s a good reason why much of the restrictions being lifted focus around being outdoors. The risk of infection is significantly lower as the fresh air helps to disperse the virus particles. So, if you are meeting with people from other households in line with changes to restrictions, it’s so much safer outdoors. And always remember: hands, face, space when you’re leaving home.
“Taking the vaccine when it’s your turn is the best way we can save lives, keep pressure off the NHS and get our lives back to normality. It significantly protects you from Covid-19. The more people that take it, the bigger chance we have of beating Covid-19 for good.
“Another great way you can help reduce the spread of the virus in your community is by getting a rapid lateral flow test twice a week if you are not showing any symptoms. Asymptomatic testing helps us identify people who are infectious and could spread the infection to others unknowingly.”
This week’s COVID-19 News
- People 45 and over in England will now be invited for their COVID-19 vaccination.
- The Com-Cov vaccine trial, which is researching to see if different vaccines can be mixed for the first and second vaccination jab, is expanding.
- The Office for National Statistics has estimated that 54.9% of the population in England had Covid antibodies in the week to 28 March.
- The rollout of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will temporarily stop in the US, South Africa and European Union. This is after six rare blood clot cases in 6.8 million vaccinations.
- Muslim communities are urged to take the vaccine and that people shouldn’t let fasting during Ramadan stop them from taking the vaccine.
- Early this week, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine was given out. The jab was already rolled out in Wales and Scotland, and the vaccine is expected to be delivered to the people of Northern Ireland in the upcoming weeks. This is the third vaccine to be added to the NHS ‘Armoury’, alongside the jabs from Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer – marking ‘another milestone’ says Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England.