West reports its highest Covid rate of pandemic
THE West is recording its highest number of Covid-19 cases since comparable figures began in summer 2020, when mass testing was first introduced across the UK.
The Western Daily Press reported yesterday that Bath & North East Somerset had become the UK local authority with the highest case rate in the seven days to October 15.
And now an analysis of the entire region shows that the South West has its highest case rate of the pandemic.
A total of 32,815 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the region in the seven days to October 15 – the equivalent of 579.9 per 100,000 people.
This is up from 16,910 cases, or 298.8 per 100,000, in the previous seven days.
The sharp rise comes after an estimated 43,000 people were discovered to have likely received an incorrect negative PCR Covid test result, following “technical issues” at a laboratory in Wolverhampton.
A negative PCR test means people will not have needed to isolate and could have potentially spread the virus to many others. The errors affected test results given to people between September 8 and October 12 mainly in south-west England, along with some people in the southeast and Wales.
Case rates are now rising in all but one local authority in south-west England, with many areas recording steep increases in recent days, according to analysis of Government data.
The only local authority in southwest England not recording a rise in the latest figures is Exeter, where the rate has dropped slightly from 339.0 to 313.5.
NHS Test and Trace last week suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd at its laboratory in Wolverhampton and an investigation is currently being carried out.
South West England now has the highest rate of new cases of any region in England, though all regions are currently recording an increase in rates, following the latest resurgence of the third wave of the virus.
The East Midlands has the second highest regional rate at 515.3, up week-on-week from 483.8, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 491.4, up from 441.5.
London has the lowest rate at 248.3, up from 215.0.
Rates are rising in nearly nine in 10 (89%) local authority areas in England.
Elsewhere in the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland are seeing rates climbing steadily, while a recent fall in rates in Scotland appears to have levelled off.
It comes as a University of Bristol professor has said wearing a mask may prevent England from returning to another lockdown.
Prof Adam Finn, who is also a member of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told the BBC that he does not understand why the government is not instructing the public to adhere to some restrictions.
The professor of paediatrics criticised the lack of instruction to wear a mask, saying how few people in Bristol wear a mask in places like supermarkets.
Yesterday one of the West’s biggest hospitals said that it was seeing a worrying rise in Covid cases. The Great Western Hospital in Swindon posted a photograph of doctors in heavy-duty PPE.
It warned admissions for Covid related symptoms rose by more than 20 in a week from 45 last week to 66 this week.
Meanwhile a Covid test and trace operation is underway at Hereford County Hospital after patients on a single ward tested positive.
Wye Valley NHS Trust has said the hospital’s Arrow ward is closed to visitors, but could not confirm if the ward was being used for non-Covid cardio/respiratory cases.
The Trust expects the closure to be temporary with a “small number” of patients testing positive now in isolation and Covid-19 testing for all inpatients on the ward being carried out.
Two Bristol secondary schools yesterday said they are bringing back mandatory face coverings and asking students to complete daily tests after an increase in coronavirus cases.
Redland Green and Ashton Park schools announced the measures.