Second wave of Covid ‘real and happening now’
PUBLIC HEALTH BOSSES URGE VIGILANCE AS INFECTIONS RISE
MORE than 1,000 new coronavirus cases in Leicestershire over the last two weeks demonstrates the second wave is “real and happening now”, public health experts have said.
Leicestershire County Council has released its latest analysis of positive Covid-19 tests.
While most parts of the county have an infection rate lower than the national average, the numbers have been rising over recent weeks.
County Hall says the latest seven-day rates, up to October 1, show the only district above the national average of 100 cases for every 100,000 people is Oadby and Wigston which has a rate of 112.
Around 170 extra cases have now been added in following Public Health England’s IT “glitch” which means there were over 450 coronavirus cases in Leicestershire that week – a third more than initially reported.
Although Leicestershire’s average rate of 65.6 per 100,000 people is below the national and East Midlands averages, the county council’s director of public health, Mike Sandys, says the latest data signals the arrival of a second wave.
Mr Sandys said: “Adding in the extra figures means that we now believe the rate in the last week to be at least a third higher than previously thought.
“While levels are below national benchmarks, it’s clear that the second wave is real and happening now.”
He urged people to stick to the national rules in place to stop the spread of the virus and maintain social-distancing.
He added: “It remains down to us to stem the rise and changing our behaviour is the trick.
“It’s human nature to perhaps find it easier to adopt social distancing in the work place, for instance, but not be as diligent on the commute - or to closely follow the rules on household mixing but join in a crowded chat at the school gates.
“It’s about doing the right thing – and by following social distancing, wearing a face covering, washing your hands and adhering to the rules, you’re playing your part.”
The county council’s assessment of the rise in cases echoes that of hospital bosses in Leicester who believe that, while admissions of Covid-19 cases are still low compared to the April peak, the numbers will rise in the coming month having already started to.
Rebecca Brown, acting chief executive at Leicester’s hospitals, said: “Everything that we did in the first wave, we are building on going into the winter.
“We’re now in the foothills of the second wave but we need people to be confident and comfortable enough to come into the hospitals for other things.
“Urgent care, cancer care , it all needs to continue.
“We’ve got a really tough six months ahead of us but we need to maintain what we’ve done, wear the masks, wash our hands, keep a social distance because that’s the only way we can protect ourselves and protect our loved ones.”