Over-60s Covid cases are double the national rate
THE number of over60s testing positive for Covid-19 in Rochdale is more than double the national rate.
People are now being urged to think about the ‘potentially devastating’ consequences of mixing with loved ones they don’t live with as deaths in the borough surge.
Covid-related deaths in Rochdale have quadrupled over the last three weeks, with 16 recorded in the last seven days almost all were people over the age of 60.
The outcomes for older people who catch Covid19 are significantly worse than younger people. People over 60 are more likely to become unwell with the virus, more likely to be hospitalised and more likely to die.
Rochdale had seen more people in their 20s testing positive for Covid19
than people over 60 during the pandemic, but this changed in mid-October.
Rochdale council leader Allen Brett, said: “The news of a potential vaccine breakthrough was welcome, but I want to be clear that this isn’t an immediate solution and a tough winter awaits us.
“Now is not the time to ease our resolve, quite the opposite, so we must all continue to follow the guidance, helping to protect our hospitals, care homes and vulnerable people.”
Coun Brett told says the next few weeks will be ‘absolutely vital’ in bringing down Covid transmission rates and protecting the elderly and vulnerable.
“The next few weeks are absolutely vital in our continued fight to bring the covid-19 transmission rate down, ensuring our most vulnerable residents, care homes and supported living settings are protected from the virus,” he added.
“I know people have sacrificed a lot since March but, to be blunt, every time you follow the guidance you could be helping to save the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents. There is no more powerful message than that, as we enter a key phase in our work to drive down the infection rate across the borough.”
Last week 20pc of the 6,200 people who were tested in the borough were positive for coronavirus. The national rate per 100,000 is 246 but it is double that in Rochdale at 598. That figure is even higher for the over 60s and is the second worst in the North West.
Andrea Fallon, the council’s director of public health, said she was worried about the trend.
She said: “The number of over 60s catching covid19 in our borough is rapidly rising and sadly this is now translating into a greater number of deaths.
“Household transmission is still the most common way that the virus is being spread across our borough and we all need to follow the lockdown guidance.
“Making sure that we do not visit anyone we don’t live with is so important if you haven’t already done so, have a discussion with friends and family about not visiting each other until we are allowed to do so.
“It only takes one visit, one occasion or one slipup where we don’t follow the guidance which then allows the virus to take hold, and then lives can be lost. Not putting ourselves in the situation in the first place helps as does establishing a routine of regular handwashing, minimising trips for shopping, wearing a face covering and keeping our distance.
“As well as this, we need to remember to look after our overall health by taking care of ourselves and consulting with our primary care practice if we are otherwise unwell.”
●●FIGURES fall again page 13