‘Enhanced’ area to get extra help
MACCLESFIELD and the rest of Cheshire East has been designated as an ‘enhanced resource area’ to combat the rise of the Delta Covid variant across the borough.
The announcement was made on Monday and means the council can access a range of support and guidance to address rapidly rising infection rates.
This can include driving vaccine uptake for eligible people, the possibility of requesting military aid and additional testing support – including schools testing. It comes as rates continue to climb in Macclesfield and people aged 23 or over are being asked to book a vaccination.
On Tuesday the latest government figures, taking the seven days to June 9, showed 233 Covid cases in Macclesfield.
Upton Priory and
Greenside had the highest number at 38 and
Prestbury and Adlington had the highest rolling rate of cases per 100,000 (527.9).
Weston and Macclesfield Central were also hotspot areas.
But Cheshire East Council stresses that the enhanced resource status is not a local lockdown or a return to the tiered system.
Councillor Sam Corcoran, council leader, said: “We welcome any additional practical support in our fight against Covid in Cheshire East.
“This new designation from government recognises the prevalence of the Delta variant and the rapidly increasing rates in the borough and it very much reflects the measures we have been putting in place locally over the last few weeks as local data showed us that infections were rising.
“For example, we have worked with the Department of Health and Social Care and Sodexo to bring in additional testing capacity.
“We are working closely with schools around testing and other measures such as face coverings.
“My key ask is for additional vaccination supply. Cheshire’s vaccination programme has been a great success so far and we stand ready to ramp up vaccinations which are currently constrained by the supply available to us.”
The Delta variant is more transmissible than other variants and cases are also rising in nearby Greater
Manchester and Cheshire West. It has been said that the rise in cases has centred on outbreaks related to hospitality and catering establishments, retail outlets and schools.
Vaccination and testing - along with people adhering to guidance on matters such as social distancing and maskwearing - is seen as the key to getting on top of the surge.
Anyone aged 23 and over is invited to book their Covid-19 vaccine by visiting www.nhs.uk/ covidvaccine.
In addition, all residents in the borough are asked to take no-symptoms Covid-19 tests, called Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) twice a week.
For full information on where to get tested or pick up home testing kits visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ covid-testing.