The reason Covid-19 cases have spiked in our region
OUTBREAKS TRACED BACK TO SUPERMARKET STAFF, FACTORY WORKERS AND SCHOOLS
THE spike in Covid-19 cases in North East Lincolnshire in recent weeks has been traced back to numerous outbreaks.
The latest epidemiology report has been published by North East Lincolnshire Council and it explains why the region has seen an increase in cases in March.
It states North East Lincolnshire has the third highest infection rate in England, coming only after Hull and Barnsley.
The report says there have been “ongoing outbreaks” amongst supermarket and factory workers as well as at schools.
It reads: “All positive infections tested for variants in the last two weeks in North East Lincolnshire residents were associated with the more infectious Kent variant. “This increase has been associated with ongoing outbreaks in settings such as factories and supermarkets (staff).
“There has been an increase in infection rates in school age children following the introduction of testing for all secondary school pupils and staff.”
As of March 17, North East Lincolnshire had an infection rate of 149.2. This is more than double the
UK average which ch stands at 59.5. The borough’s s lowest infection rate for 2021 was recorded on Janu- ary 29, when it t stood at 89.6. Despite this his month’s increase, ase, infection rates have ve not come close to those in November last year, ear, when it reached the 600s.
The report adds: “Out of the 15 wards, 11 saw an increase in new infection rates in the last week, Scartho, East Marsh, Sidney Sussex and Freshney saw the most significant increase in new infections.” According to the report, more women than men have been infected with the virus in recent weeks, and those aged 21 to 40 have been most exposed.
The reports reads: “Since March 1, 399 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in North East Lincolnshire. “During this period, the majority of our cases have been in the working age population between 21 and 60.
“In the most recent three weeks, there has been little difference between males and females in this age group.
“The number of cases in those aged 0-20 has increased, probably associated with the introduction of lateral flow device testing for all secondary school pupils, whilst the numbers in those aged over 60 is falling.”
“Although numbers are far lower that they were in early November, the most recent week has produced the highest number of infections since the end of November with 254 new infections.”
There have been 442 coronavirusrelated deaths in hospitals under the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust since the pandemic began in March last year. As of Thursday, there were 39 patients in the region’s hospitals – 16 at Grimsby and 23 at Scunthorpe. Of these, four were in ICU – two at Grimsby and two at Scunthorpe. In positive news, about 65,000 coronavirus vaccines have been given to residents in North East Lincolnshire, as the age group drops to people in their 50s.
The report adds: “As of March 15, in North East Lincolnshire, 95 per cent of people over the age of 70, 93 per cent of older care home residents and more than 90 per cent of those in the clinically vulnerable group have received at least one dose of the vaccine and substantial progress is being made with the over 60s and over 50s.”