Borough’s Covid-19 infection rate falls
But area’s cases remain highest in Greater Manchester despite drop
ROCHDALE’S coronavirus infection rate has fallen in the past week, the most recent official figures show.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority statistics show the borough has an infection rate of 27.9 positive cases per 100,000 residents as of July 7, compared to 28.8 last week.
However the drop still leaves the borough with the highest rate in Greater Manchester, and its decline has not been as swift as in other boroughs.
Oldham still has the region’s second highest rate behind Rochdale, but with a decrease of more than a third from 27.8 to 17.3, a wide gap has now opened up between the two boroughs.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “[The infection rate] is still relatively high in Rochdale, which has had a more proactive approach to testing than most throughout this crisis.
“They’ve had a militaryrun testing station in the town centre, but I wouldn’t want to say that’s the only reason.”
However the new figures also brought good news, with Greater Manchester’s daily hospital admissions of Covid-19 patients dropping from nine to four, the number of people in ICU down to 22 from 24, and a 45 per cent decrease in the number of patients in non-ICU beds from 342 last week to 187.
Mr Burnham said: “This is a real movement in the right direction, and again that reflects the efforts of staff who have done a wonderful job caring for people and supporting them through their illness.”
More positive news came from the Northern Care Alliance, which operates five NHS hospitals including Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital and The Royal Oldham, as well as community services, and has announced that it has now treated and discharged more than 1,000 Covid patients.
Celebrating the milestone achievement on social media, the NCA said: “Over the last 3 months colleagues across the NCA have been working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy.
“Thanks to their efforts we have successfully treated and discharged over 1,000 patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19.
“Thanks to our NCA family.”
On Monday (July 6) there were no new deaths registered in any Greater Manchester hospitals for just the second time since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, a motion due to be discussed by Rochdale council next week will call on the Government to fulfil its promise to fully reimburse the council for the costs it has incurred fighting Covid19 in the borough.
The motion says that the council will face a £26m budget shortfall without more financial support from the government, which would have a ‘serious impact’ on its ‘ability to provide mandatory education and essential social services in the future’.
Coun Faisal Rana, who has brought the motion, said: “Councils have been on the frontline in fighting Coronavirus. At the beginning of the crisis, the Tory government told us to do ‘whatever it takes.’ They explicitly promised us we would receive all the support we need and asked us to set aside financial concerns to help the national effort to beat the virus.
“Without urgent support, Rochdale Council will be forced to introduce a new wave of cuts and be unable to reopen key services.
“We are facing the closure of many services and lasting damage to social care and help for the homeless. The Government announced a derisory funding package last week, with Rochdale’s share just £2.5M which still leaves us millions in the red.”
The motion will also call for a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, which should dedicate particular attention to how BAME communities have been affected by Covid-19.
Coun Rana, who recently gave evidence to Baroness Doreen Lawrence’s review into the reasons for the virus’ higher impact on people of colour, said: “The Government
must establish a wide ranging Public Inquiry into the way they have mishandled the pandemic which has led to the UK having the highest death toll in Europe.
“It also needs to investigate underlying causes of the higher death rate among the ethnic minority population, such as health inequality, poverty, poor housing conditions and wider discrimination faced by BAME groups.”