Coronavirus infections still falling in Halton
COVID infections are still falling in Halton, but progress in stamping out the virus appears to have slowed last week.
In the week up to February 2, new infections in the borough fell by a quarter to 472. Although this is a significant fall, it is much less than the 34% drop seen in the previous week.
If the decline in new infections is slowing, it will be a significant concern to local health chiefs given the borough’s infection rate remains high at 364.7 new cases per 100,000 people.
Concerns have already been raised that the less restrictive nature of the current lockdown, with many workplaces remaining open and more people travelling to work on public transport, would limit the effectiveness of the restrictions that are in place.
Halton’s own director of public health, Eileen O’Meara, has previously warned that workplaces were a significant cause of Covid outbreaks in the borough.
New figures also showed that January was Halton’s deadliest month of the pandemic, with 65 people dying of Covid-19 over the course of the month.
Previously, April had been the worst month with 61 deaths in Halton.
But after a difficult January, deaths from Covid-19 are now also falling in the borough.
During the week up to February 2, there were 20 deaths from Covid-19 in Halton, down slightly from 23 in the previous week.
This could also reflect the significant drop in patient numbers at Warrington and Halton Hospitals, which saw the number of Covid-positive patients fall below 200 this week for the first time since January 14.
As fewer people fall ill and as the vaccine continues to be rolled out, patient numbers should fall further, relieving pressure on the health