Virus Infection rate rise ‘to be expected’ as lockdown eases
THE increased infection rate of coronavirus in the South West and in England is “to be expected” as lockdown rules are gradually eased, Gloucestershire’s public health chief has said.
Sarah Scott, the county’s director of public health, also said new information released last week, which showed the South West’s R-rate hanging at 1, means that Covid-19 transmission is neither increasing or decreasing significantly in the region.
The University of Cambridge and Public Health England published data last week showing that the R-rate has increased across England since May 11, when restrictions in the country were eased.
The rise in the R-rate in the South West means the region now has the second highest rate of coronavirus transmission in the UK.
However, Ms Scott said it was “not possible to say” what impact Gloucestershire has had on the change to the R-rate.
She added that the numbers of cases and deaths have been lower in the county and the rest of the South West than most other regions, and they continue to decrease.
She is urging Gloucestershire residents to continue following government advice and guidance by carrying on with good hand hygiene, follow social distancing measures and to follow the instructions if contacted by the NHS’S track and trace service.
Gloucestershire is braced to test more people for coronavirus in the county as a new permanent testing site in Hempsted Meadows, in Gloucester, was set up last Friday.
Ms Scott said as more people will be tested “we could well see the number of recorded cases increase”.
Ms Scott said: “The regional R values published last week show it’s gone up across England, not just in the South West – this is to be expected as we gradually move out of lockdown.
“The new information suggests the R value in the South West could be as high as 1, which would mean the transmission of Covid-19 is neither increasing or decreasing significantly in the region.
“As PHE and Cambridge University does not calculate R at a county level it’s not possible to say what, if any, impact Gloucestershire has had on the change to the R number.
“Thankfully the numbers of cases and deaths has been lower in Gloucestershire and the rest of the South West than most other regions, and they continue to decrease – this is encouraging, but not a reason to reduce our vigilance.
“As we test more and more people in the county, we could well see the number of recorded cases increase but knowing more about where cases are in the county means we can, with our partners, make sure those affected are contacted and advised to take all necessary steps e.g. immediately self isolate, to minimise the risk of others catching it.”
As we test more and more people in the county, we could well see the number of recorded cases increase
Sarah Scott