‘Most’ new Covid cases are among the young ones

‘MOST’ new cases of coronavirus in Rochdale are among children and youngsters, the local authority says.

The borough had the Covid-19 highest infection rate of anywhere in Greater Manchester during the week ending April 4, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

Rochdale Council has confirmed that ‘most’ new cases are among 10-19-year-olds.

A spokesperson for the authority said a large number of those cases can be attributed to testing taking place in schools.

Secondary school pupils were sent home for the Easter holidays with testing kits, they added.

There were 144 positive Covid-19 tests in Rochdale in the week ending April 4. That’s 87 fewer than the previous seven days.

Rochdale Council shared a graphic showing the latest coronavirus situation in the borough on Friday.

The post stated: “The 10-19 age category had the most new cases in the last seven days.

“There have now been a total of 21,093 cases in the borough.

“The infection rate is now at 64.7 per 100,000 people.”

Secondary school and college pupils were asked to take voluntary Covid-19 tests on site over the first fortnight of returning to class.

Now they are being sent home-testing kits to use twice weekly.

They have been advised to wear face masks wherever social distancing cannot be maintained, including in the classroom, since March 8.

The Government this week announced that secondary and college pupils in England will need to continue wearing face masks in class when they return after Easter.

It is hoped the precautionary measure will help limit the risk of transmission.

The move came after five education union leaders called on ministers not to “rush into” removing face coverings from classrooms after Easter without careful consideration of the scientific evidence.

The Department for Education (DFE) expects face coverings to no longer be required in classrooms when further easing of social contact limits indoors are confirmed in England, which will be no earlier than May 17.

Any changes to the policy will be confirmed with one week’s notice following a review of the latest data on infection and vaccination rates, the DFE said.