Latest Covid statistics
This week’s figures show that new cases of Covid are continuing to fall in our area, with 137 new cases recorded in the past week, compared to 209 the week before.
Weeks into a national lockdown the number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Horsham District is continuing plummet.
In the seven days to Tuesday, February 16, 137 people tested positive for coronavirus – 72 fewer than the week before.
The rate per 100,000 people has now dropped to 95.3.
Since the start of the pandemic Horsham has registered a total of 5,381 cases, and 184 people have died within 28 days of a positive test - an increase of five in the last seven days.
A spokesman for the Sussex vaccine programme said things were going well, and added: “We have offered the vaccination to people in the first four priority groups and remain committed to ensuring that everyone in these groups is vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Staff and volunteers working on the vaccine rollout in Horsham and its surrounding villages have been recognised for their ‘magnificent’ contribution.
At a meeting of Horsham District Council members praised the work of the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly alongside the Primary Care Networks and council officers to support the logistics of the Covid immunisation centre at Christ’s Hospital School.
Over eight weeks around 7,000 vaccinations have been administered focusing initially on the most vulnerable and some key workers from across the district, the council said. Universal praise has been given for the smooth running of the immunisation centre by both the NHS and an army of volunteers making the whole experience as stress free as possible for all involved.
Council Leader Ray Dawe singled out the considerable impact that the Glebe Surgery
in Storrington has had on the vaccination effort in the district. It was one of the first surgeries to start vaccinations in the south east of England and initially was administering them for residents from Henfield, Steyning and Billingshurst as well as for their own patients in the Storrington, Washington, Thakeham and West Chiltington areas.
Mr Dawe, said: “The work by NHS staff and volunteers across our District has been magnificent and our thanks go out to all of them. I was particularly pleased to see that The Glebe Surgery in Storrington was recognised by the Member of Parliament for Covid Vaccination Deployment Nadhim Zahawi MP in a recent video.”
The Glebe Surgery was also praised by MP Andrew Griffith, who visited the team to present a celebration cake as they delivered their 10,000th vaccine. He met Dr Keir Newsom, the Primary Care Network’s vaccination lead, Susan Smith, the practice manager, Tony Sewell, chairman of the patient participation group and the staff and volunteers who have been working hard to deliver
the landmark number of vaccinations.
Mr Griffith said: “Dr Keir Newsom and his team have been exemplary, making the bold decision to lead the group’s programme for such a large group of patients and delivering it with efficiency.
“It is a proud achievement for them all and I was pleased to be able to thank them on behalf of everyone who has
received a vaccination at the surgery.”
Mr Sewell added: “It was good to meet Andrew, and I was very pleased that he could see for himself, first hand, how well the vaccine rollout has been going at The Glebe Surgery.”
Dr Newsom said: “I look forward to inviting Andrew back to our 20,000th vaccination.”