Coronavirus measures return as infection surge continues

PUPILS REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS IN COMMUNAL AREAS AT SOME SCHOOLS, AND UNDER 16s KEPT AWAY FROM CARE HOMES IN ONE BOROUGH

CORONAVIRUS measures are slowly being brought back as guidance for some neighbourhoods of Greater Manchester as infections rates continue to skyrocket.

Mask wearing in communal areas of schools is being reintroduced in certain areas, while one borough announced on Wednesday there will be a recommended ban on under 16s going into its care homes, and another has reported a rise in Covid hospital admissions.

The measures come as, nationally, NHS and SAGE leaders are pleading for the government to implement ‘Plan B’ coronavirus restrictions or risk a winter crisis on the NHS due to rocketing Covid cases, demand on hospitals and GPs, and a backlog in patients.

In Greater Manchester, regional health leaders have expressed the same concerns, saying North West experts agree there could be a major wave for this part of the country hitting in December.

Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Greater Manchester – with some neighbourhoods experiencing among the highest infection rates of the country – with school pupils being some of those most affected.

Trafford has the highest infection rates in the region, at 656.2 cases per 100,000 people.

Stockport follows closely behind, with an infection rate of 573.8 cases.

The lead director of public health for Greater Manchester, Professor Kate Ardern, said this week that any increase in hospital admissions caused by Covid could ‘tip the system.’

She said: “We’re not seeing at the moment the kind of peaks that we saw last year – and at the end of last year in particular with wave two and three – but our transmission rates are really high.

“Clearly, there are concerns going forward into winter with that potential for the unvaccinated population and the slow rollout of the teens vaccine, potentially impacting and crossing over with the vulnerable population not having had their booster.”

On Wednesday, Jude Wells, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health, told the M.E.N: “We’re seeing persistently high numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 in Stockport.

“These high numbers of cases, which aren’t just in school-age children, are resulting in increased adult Covid-19 hospital admissions locally.

“In Stockport our annual campaign will incorporate messaging on how to keep safe and well by looking after yourself, after your home and after others this winter.”

Meanwhile, health bosses in Trafford, which has been another epicentre of coronavirus spikes in Greater Manchester within recent weeks, have also started to implement their own set of guidance.

In an attempt to control the case rates, acting director of public health, Helen Gollins, issued new advice earlier this month, instructing all secondary school staff and pupils, primary school staff, and parents collecting their children from schools to begin wearing face masks again.

On Wednesday Trafford’s public health director announced a new policy – care

homes are advised not to allow under 16s to enter.

Visits from youngsters are being discouraged, apart from in end of life circumstances or if the visit happens outside and is socially distanced, as health bosses try to stop the spread of the virus to the borough’s older population.

It is not yet known if other boroughs will follow suit with that social care guidance, but some boroughs are now pushing similar advice within schools.

Wigan, for example, started new measures after Covid outbreaks in classrooms started contributing to the high infection rate of recent weeks.

The public health team undertook on-site supervised masked PCR testing of 600 students at Shevington High School following a ‘significant outbreak.’

Extra lateral flow tests were also taken to identify asymptomatic transmission.

Face coverings were then reintroduced in communal areas at a trio of schools, and in classrooms at another, where it has been agreed that face coverings will continue to be worn for another week after half term.

Secondary schools in Tameside are also seeing the return of masks, after a letter was sent to parents and carers last Friday, in which pupils were asked to wear face coverings at school again from October 19.