‘Worrying’ stats show borough is hotspot for coronavirus

NEW figures revealing Rochdale as a coronavirus hotspot have been described as ‘worrying, but not surprising’.

Statistics from Public Health England showed 57 cases were recorded in the borough in the fortnight preceding June 4 meaning it was among the highest for infection rates in Greater Manchester.

Local leaders believe the rate is linked to the borough’s significant ethnic minority communities and high population density.

However they emphasised that residents should not be alarmed, and that they should feel safe providing they abide with government guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.

Rochdale has the third highest rate in Greater Manchester with an equivalent rate of 25.6 cases per 100,000 residents.

The figure is significantly above the region’s average of 16.8 and only behind Bury and Tameside for the highest rate in the city region. Across England the figure is just 9.2.

Council leader Allen Brett said: “We realise that areas with large BAME communities, and especially Bangladeshi communities, are more susceptible to Covid - so although the statistics are worrying, they are not surprising.

“The council has done everything possible and at times we have gone against the government recommendations because we felt they were not strong enough. We have provided PPE to our hospitals and been ahead of the game in our care homes.”

Asked if the council would take further steps after lockdown to support the groups that had been most vulnerable to coronavirus, Coun Brett said: “We’re already taking all the steps we can to support all the communities in the borough.”

The statistics were published just ahead of the planned reopening of non-essential shops and a planned return to school for Rochdale pupils in Reception, year one and year six on Monday.

Coun Brett said: “We have always been cautious on schools and we have been able to cater for a population with above average needs. Our schools will only open when it is safe and proper.

“As for shops, we are doing everything that is possible to make sure shoppers are safe and shops won’t open unless they have been properly assessed.” He added: “If you follow the government guidelines, you should be safe.”

Public Health England data suggested last week that the North West’s Covid transmission rate was now the highest in the country.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham now wants to set up a coronavirus ‘heat map’ to make residents aware of their local risk level - but Coun Brett says much more testing data is needed for this to work.

He said: “There’s not been enough testing and nobody’s quite sure how accurate the statistics are. Some figures have shown large numbers of deaths in a few wards, and then it turned out that was where the hospitals were.

“I am equally frightened about worrying people with numbers and information that don’t give an accurate picture of what is happening in their area.”

The Government has also discussed the possibility of future local lockdowns in areas where the infection rates are highest.

But Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd says although the comparison is alarming, it merely shows that communities in the North West are experiencing the peak in Covid cases already seen in London and the South. He said: “London went into this crisis more quickly and if you went into these numbers a few months ago, you would see we are going through what they have already dealt with.”

Mr Lloyd added: “As someone who’s been through the Covid mill, I can say that it is not worth getting it. The public message still has to be a strong one - we can’t afford to be complacent.

“The little things are still important, like washing your hands, keep your social distancing and wear masks if you do go out or use public transport.”

Coun Ashley Dearnley, leader of the council’s Conservative group and shadow portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said the new easings scheduled for Monday are ‘essential’ for the borough - and should still go ahead.

He said: “This is the right time to get the economy working again. Nowhere do we need to do that more than in places like Rochdale where we have so much deprivation.

“We need to get people in work - not just for the economy but for people’s mental wellbeing too.

“I don’t think it would achieve anything to not go ahead with it, especially for our children who want to be in school and for those children from deprived backgrounds who need to be in that school environment.”

He added: “This disease has been indiscriminate and even healthy people have caught it.

“Something the council could look at when this is over is measures to help those groups that were more at risk to Covid to lead a more healthy lifestyle.”

Last week Coun Faisal Rana told an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s BAME communities that increased health risks, greater exposure through work, deprivation and poor housing conditions had proved to be a ‘deadly cocktail’ for ethnic minorities.

He added that communities had often been left to themselves to distribute vital information, and that he had resorted to personally distributing bilingual Covid information leaflets in English and Urdu to his constituents in Spotland and Falinge.

‘We’re already taking all the steps we can’