Two areas of town could be free of Covid
TWO areas of Stockport could be Covidfree according to the latest data.
Norris Bank, to the west of the town centre, recorded fewer than three cases during the week to February 25.
And in further encouraging news, so did Bramhall South and Woodford, near the border with East Cheshire.
Public Health England does not specify the exact figure when numbers are so low in order to protect people’s identities.
But it means that there were no more than two cases registered in either area during the seven-day period – and possibly none at all.
It is a further boost for the borough which this week reached the key milestone of 100,000 first Covid vaccinations.
Both Norris Bank and Bramhall South saw infection rates peak in late October/early November, and again after-Christmas – broadly in line with the second and third waves that hit the borough and the region.
The infection rate in the latter rocketed to 667 cases per 100,000 people in early January – having fallen away to very low levels only a few weeks before.
Norris Bank also saw a post-Christmas spike, with rates approaching 400 in mid-January, before beginning to drop off again towards the end of the month.
The two areas have seen very low figures during February, with Bramhall South also recording a potentially Covid-free seven days during the week to February 4.
It is further cause for hope, with Stockport’s overall infection rate also continuing to fall.
According to the latest borough-level figures, this dropped to 154 during the week to February 26, a 12 pc drop on the previous seven days.
However, this remains above the England average – 91.2 - and is also falling at half the rate.
Director of public health Jennifer Connolly has warned residents not to become complacent.
“Coronavirus is still very much circulating in Stockport and while rates are falling gradually, the decline is starting to plateau,” she said.
“Across much of the north, rates are declining at a slower pace than other parts of the country and so we need to be extremely vigilant about the measures that remain and will remain in place for a fair while yet.”
Ms Connolly added that the emergence of new variants remained a concern.
She said: “Every time the virus has an opportunity to mutate it will do, so there is still the chance of more variants emerging.
“The best way to limit the development and spread of new variants is to reduce the number of new infections. We must still take actions that stop the virus transmitting in order to protect ourselves and each other.
“So even once restrictions are eased and we can meet another person socially or for exercise outdoors from March 8 and six people or two households can meet outdoors from March 29, we must not see it as a free for all.”