Health chief gives stark warning on Covid cases

KIRKLEES’ health boss has issued a stark warning amid a worrying rise in coronavirus cases as 2020 comes to an end.

In it, Rachel Spencer-Henshall, the area’s director of public health, urges people to scale back New Year celebrations to what is legally allowed in Tier 3.

It comes as coronavirus cases in the borough rose by almost 15 per cent over the festive period.

In the past seven days, 777 new positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in Kirklees – an increase of around 14 per cent from the previous week.

Kirklees’ infection rate is now 177 per 100,000 people – up from 155 the week before. It is the first time since early November

that infection rates have risen in the borough.

And there are fears the number of infections will increase further following the relaxation of restrictions for Christmas Day.

“For the first time since early November, we’ve seen our rate of Covid-19 infections rise in Kirklees,” said Ms Spencer-Henshall.

“The danger, if we are not careful, is that this will continue to increase and will ultimately lead to more people in hospital, greater pressure on our vital health services and more people will lose their lives.”

Fifty-five residents have been admitted to hospitals in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield over the past seven days.

Sadly, 12 patients who had tested positive died in one of the hospitals over the same time.

Now there are real fears the death toll and case numbers will inevitably increase if people broke Tier 3 rules to throw parties. Ms Spencer-Henshall continued: “New Year is usually a time when we all come together to celebrate, but unfortunately this year has to be different.

“I’m urging everyone in Kirklees to continue to follow the restrictions in place which prevent us from mixing with other households.”

She also urged residents to continue to take advantage of the mass testing taking place at four centres across Kirklees. ■■The walk-in testing centres are at Batley Library, the Walsh Building in Dewsbury, the Hudawi Centre in Huddersfield, and the Greenwood Centre in Ravensthorpe.