‘Steady’ fall in R-rate for county
RATES of Covid-19 infections are reported to be coming down across the city and parts of the county as lockdown continues.
Public health bosses say it is “good news” to see infections across all age groups decreasing in the city although there were still high numbers of cases recorded.
The current R-rate – the reproduction number and growth rate of coronavirus – for Nottinghamshire is confirmed to have come down to between 0.9 and 1.1 which is a significant improvement from previous weeks.
The picture is similar across the country with decreasing rates, but the Government has said lockdown could push on until Easter.
Speaking about the local situation, Alison Challenger, public health director for Nottingham, said: “It’s getting better but it’s getting better steadily rather than quickly, so lockdown is clearly having a good impact but we do need to make sure that we are keeping with the rules and restrictions that lockdown has brought to us.
“Clearly social distancing is one of the most important factors in terms of preventing that transmission so please try and stay at least two metres away from others where at all possible, wear a mask and wash your hands regularly.
“Rates in the city are recording at 420 per 100,000 – that compares with the England rate of 484, so we are still lower but that gap is actually narrowing so we are probably not decreasing as fast as England generally.
“Our local R-rate is also showing a reduction that is currently estimated to be between 0.9 and 1.1.
“So all the indications in terms of case rates are good but we do need to ask you to keep with the restrictions to allow that rate to come down further, and if possible, faster.”
Ms Challenger, speaking at a Public Health briefing, thanked the work of those in the vaccine programme during a time when “the NHS is traditionally at its busiest and even more so with Covid”.
She went on to discuss further plans for the city to help monitor the spread of Covid19.
This includes the asymptomatic testing site at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, which opened on Wednesday.
“I do understand there are going to be 1,000 vaccinations available,” she said.
She urged people aged over 80 or those with friends or family in that age group to book online or over the phone as quickly as possible.
The NHS now says anyone over 80 who has not yet received their letter can book online using swiftqueue. co.uk/nottinghamc19vpatient.php or by calling 0115 883 4640.
In the wider county, the picture is similar but rates are said to still be higher than before Christmas.
Two asymptomatic testing sites are due to open in Mansfield today with a further site in Bassetlaw scheduled for February.
On keeping lockdown in place, Ms Challenger added: “It’s a very different picture to the one we had in March and April last year – this time we have a new variant which is spreading quickly and accounting for quite a large number of cases now across the country.
“And it’s also winter – last year we were coming out of winter and it was spring so it is a very different picture.
“We don’t want lockdown for a moment longer than it has to be in place, but I think what we are seeing at the moment and for the foreseeable future is that it is needed.
“It’s difficult to speculate and consider right up to Easter but we have to regularly monitor this to find out where the figures are going and if we do need to continue. But from my perspective, if we need it, it still has to be in place and though the numbers are reducing they are still over 400 – they’re still too high.”
Dr Andy Haynes, integrated healthcare lead for Nottinghamshire, said hospital pressures would need to “improve significantly” before lockdown easing could be considered.
He added: “It’s a difficult issue. Back in the summer infection rates were about 1 in 2,000 or less whereas in the react study published on January 21, it was 1 in 63 so they’re still very high levels of the virus circulating.”
It’s getting better, but it’s getting better steadily rather than quickly
Alison Challenger