Why parts of county are in danger zone
‘IF NEIGHBOUR’S HOUSE IS ON FIRE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT’
AREAS of Leicestershire that have been included in Leicester’s lockdown zone had the red line drawn around them because of the number of positive cases and their infection rates.
The county’s director of public health, Mike Sandys, said there were many different ways to interpret the data available to the council when the map was drawn up, but, ultimately, areas neighbouring the city had higher rates of infection and therefore had to be included.
“If your neighbour’s house is on fire, you have a problem whether you want one or not, that’s probably the simplest way of explaining why we had to do what we have done,” he said.
“We had to take action based on what we knew and the numbers suggested to us the urban areas neighbouring the city were most at risk of an outbreak.
“The number of positive cases and rates per 100,000 meant that if the city was on fire, they were tinder.”
Maps included in the latest data release show areas nearest to the city had higher numbers of confirmed cases and infection rates – both considered when deciding where the red line went.
Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said discussions about including the whole of the county did take place.
Addressing fellow county councillors, he said lengthy discussions took place with NHS track and trace programme leader Baroness Dido Harding, the Secretary of State, and Public Health England (PHE), before the map was drawn up.
Data that was until recently not shared with local authorities has since been made available to the county council. It has, in turn, made some of the headline figures available to the public.
The Mercury has crunched the numbers. All figures are correct up to July 4. More data is now available but as yet, not in such detail.
THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,990 cases have been confirmed across the whole county.
Of those, 1,435 are pillar one cases – from swab testing in PHE labs and NHS hospitals for those with a clinical need, and health and care workers.
The remaining 1,555 were confirmed after a pillar two test, from swab testing for the wider population.
A total of 255 of the 2,990 mentioned above were confirmed in the fortnight between June 20 and July 4.
The average (median) age of someone diagnosed in the county following a pillar one test is 73 and 45 after a pillar two test.
AREAS WITH 50 OR MORE CASES
Maps and graphs released by the county council also show the areas that have the highest numbers of cases and infection rates.
The data shows that cases in Oadby and Wigston are significantly higher than the national, regional and county average but still not at the same level as in Leicester.
Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth and Charnwood have similar levels to the averages, with Melton, Harborough and North West Leicestershire ranking significantly lower.
For more, see the panel, right.
INFECTION RATES BY DISTRICT On July 4, when the latest detailed data relates to, the infection rate per 100,000 population for Eng
The numbers suggested the urban areas neighbouring the city were most at risk of an outbreak
Mike Sandys
land was 440, the East Midlands rate was 445.
Leicester’s was 1,116 and the county’s as a whole stood at 431.
Oadby and Wigston had the highest in Leicestershire at 712, which goes some way to explaining why health bosses branded it an area for concern.
Coun Rushton, said: “Our residents’ response to coronavirus has been exemplary.
“But this is the biggest health crisis in living memory – and there’s still work to do to get on top of this virus before it grows further in Leicestershire.
“This situation is unprecedented and there is no trigger rate for lockdown.
“As I’ve said, our map is far from perfect. We have to draw lines somewhere but I understand people’s frustration with the lockdown boundary.
“That’s why we have been working with Public Health England to secure agreement to share information which means that today, we can publish more localised data.
“Times remain challenging but you can help to save lives and livelihoods.
“Wherever you live, do the right thing. Keep your distance, wash your hands, spot the symptoms and get a test if you need one.”
All residents in Leicestershire are being asked to book a test if they have symptoms.
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