MP IN APPEAL FOR MORE TIME TO AVOID TIGHTER COVID RESTRICTIONS
Newcastle tops Covid-19 list in the county
AN MP is urging ministers to give Newcastle more time to show its fight against coronavirus is working before imposing tougher restrictions.
Aaron Bell’s plea comes as Newcastle Borough Council’s area has become the worst hot spot for Covid-19 in the whole of Staffordshire.
Around one-fifth of the confirmed cases are linked to Keele University, where 85 students and two members of staff have tested positive. Most of the affected students live off campus.
More than 300 students have now been asked to self-isolate because they have either tested positive or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus.
But by far the biggest factor in community transmission is households mixing.
Now there are fears Newcastle could be placed in Tier 2 – the Government’s ‘high’ risk category – unless it turns the corner on soaring numbers of infections.
Latest figures show there are 146 cases per 100,000 people across the borough, which is worse than the national, regional and county rates.
Mr Bell, MP for Newcastle, said: “I’m trying to urge the Government to look flexibly at the rates and put them in a proper context. Secondly, I want them to take account of the actions that are already being taken to reduce infections.”
He pointed to the success of local authorities in helping to control an outbreak in Silverdale, which involved tracing people who had been to one particular venue.
A national testing facility also recently opened at Keele University and is aimed at anyone displaying symptoms.
And Staffordshire County Council and Keele have adopted a joint proactive approach in targeting students without symptoms. So far, 480 students – from specific university halls and private accommodation – have been asked to book tests.
Mr Bell added: “I want to stress it wouldn’t be student cases that would be the thing that pushed Newcastle into Tier 2. Even discounting Keele, we still have a rate of around 100.”
But he did raise the ‘distinct nature’ of university outbreaks in Parliament this week, appealing to the Prime Minister not to use a ‘single catch-all case rate’ when deciding on tiers for local authority areas.
Boris Johnson replied: “I am reluctant to make a hard and fast distinction between students and other members of the population. They are heir to the same afflictions as the rest of us.”
Newcastle, along with the rest of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent, is currently in Tier 1, which denotes a ‘medium’ risk. Neighbouring Cheshire East has been placed in Tier 2.
Cheshire’s additional restrictions include a ban on separate households mixing in hospitality settings, such as pubs, although they can still meet outside in groups of up to six or with their support bubble.
Mr Bell said: “I suspect lots of areas are going to end up in Tier 2 over the next month or two. Rates are rising generally.
“But the hope for Newcastle is that, with specific measures in place, we start to see the rate come down.”
Dr Richard Harling, director of health and care at the county council, said: “While nobody wants to self-isolate while at university, it is important we all play our part not only for the welfare of others, but to ensure students can continue to fulfil their longer term aspirations post Covid-19. Sticking to the rules is the best way to do this.”
Keele’s vice-chancellor Trevor Mcmillan added: “We have over 10,000 students and, while the current situation is not unique to Keele, I am extremely proud of how our students have responded and how they are coping during these challenging times.”