Please do your bit, begs public health chief
RISING COVID-19 infection rates in Calderdale are serious, and in some parts of Halifax are among the very highest in the country, says the borough’s Director of Public Health.
Deborah Harkins has published a message on the council’s website to stress how serious the situation in Calderdale is, and to ask for residents’ help to tackle COVID-19.
“When we look at the trends in confirmed cases in Calderdale, it’s clear that too many restrictions were lifted too quickly,” she said.
“Infection rates in Calderdale are currently increasing faster than in any other borough in the Yorkshire and Humber region,” said Ms Harkins.
She said people in high incidence areas told her they feel stigmatised and blamed for the situation the borough now finds itself in.
But here is no evidence at all that these higher rates are because people in Calderdale are less likely to observe social distancing than people in other areas of the country
“In fact, the opposite is true. “During lockdown we had some of the lowest infection rates in the country.”
Bringing the infection rate down is important for many reasons including getting freedoms back to visit family and friends and easing concern about children’s return to school in September.
“We don’t know why each case of COVID-19 happens, but
TEST: Mobile testing unit at Mixenden
we do know what we can do to slow the spread.”
Ms Harkins said it was important people understood that if the borough was to successfully implement these actions, the infection rate will increase before it reduces.
“This is because we need to find more people with COVID-19, so that they can be supported to isolate to reduce the spread of the virus.
“This increase before the decrease has been seen in other areas that have successfully reduced the infection rate,” she said.
ONLINE: Read more on this at www.halifaxcourier.co.uk