Borough is still a ‘national area of concern’
CALDERDALE HAS been declared an ‘area of concern’ following an increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases.
Council leader Tim Swift said coronavirus is still a ‘very real risk’ after Calderdale, which has the ninth highest infection rate across England (as of July 18), was placed into the Government’s catergory of Area of Concern - the third highest watchlist tier behind Intervention and Enhanced Support.
As a response, the council are now operating testing sites in Todmorden and King Cross in Halifax, and recently set up a successful mobile testing unit in Mixenden, with another site planned for Brighouse.
Coun Swift said: “Although lockdown restrictions are gradually lifted, the virus is still a very real risk in Calderdale.
“Covid-19 is still within our communities – and will be for a long time – and as restrictions continue to ease and we come into contact with more people, there is more opportunity for the virus to spread.”
Coun Swift said the council was stepping up work with communities to protect those who are most vulnerable, including supporting people in higher-risk jobs and workplaces, as well as schools, nurseries, and places of worship.
Calderdale’s Director of Public Health, Deborah Harkins, has also urged people to be careful and spoken about plans to deal with Covid-19 in the borough.
“People are worried I’m sure. To put it into perspective we’re not going to be going into local lockdown,” said Ms Harkins.
“We are having conversations about what measures we can put in place to prevent the spread of the virus and prevent the need for lockdown.
Cases would increase because more people were in contact with each other and more cases were expected.
“I would say because of fluctuations, and we do so much more testing now, we‘re going to find Covid. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rate goes up again.”
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