We’re not out of the woods with pandemic yet, health boss warns
“WE are not out of it yet” is the message from a top health official as the county continues to record hundreds of new Covid-19 cases a day.
Mike Sandys, the director of public health at Leicestershire County Council, urged caution as the Covid-19 pandemic closes in fast on the two-year mark, while remaining restrictions look set to be lifted by the government.
Face covering rules have already been lifted, while rules on isolation for anyone positive for coronavirus look set to be lifted by the end of this month.
Mr Sandys said people should not rest on their laurels.
“The current situation is two times better than it was at the peak of Omicron, but it is two times as bad as it was before.
“We can’t escape that fact,” he said.
Most recent data shows Leicestershire is posting an average seven-day infection rate of 765 per 100,000 people.
That is above Leicester’s rate of 687 per 100,000 people, but below the England average of 871.
“The situation is improving but the number of cases locally is much, much higher than we’d hope and that’s obviously a cause for concern,” Mr Sandys said.
“We locked down Leicester at the start of the pandemic when we had 135 cases per 100,000 people and now we are much higher.
“That’s the strange situation we are in. But a lot of this comes down to the success of the vaccination campaign and people following the rules.
“Despite what you hear, I know and have to remind myself regularly that the vast majority follow the rules, but we can’t rest on our laurels now.”
The infection numbers are below the level posted during the highs of the Omicron variant in December, but remain higher than a previous peak last summer during the Euro 2020 tournament, when Leicestershire posted average rates of 550 infections per 100,000 people.
The government is drawing up its “living with Covid” strategy, which the PM has said will be presented on the first day back from the recess, on February 21.
But when asked if the change would mean people could go to work if they had Covid, the PM’s official spokesman said: “So there would be guidance, that would not be what we are recommending.
“What we would simply be doing is removing the domestic regulations which relate to isolation.
“But obviously in the same way that someone with flu, we wouldn’t recommend they go to work, we would never recommend anyone goes to work when they have an infectious disease.”
Mr Sandys said he felt the move was premature.
“I think ending isolating rules is perhaps a little early.
I would have held off until March at least before making that decision,” he said.
“We are still in an interesting stage at the moment and holding off that little longer wouldn’t have caused too much of an issue in my opinion.
“The announcement doesn’t mean it’s the end of Covid. It’s like me going round telling people I’m George Clooney. It’s not the case. We have to be careful and responsible.
“Hopefully, as it gets warmer and the days get longer, I think that’s when we’ll see where we properly are with Covid. “Above all I hope we can have a nice summer, so long as we are cautious. I don’t want to scare people with terrifying figures every day, that’s not what I’m here for, but people need to look at the public health side of things again and less about the politics surroundings Covid.
“At the end of the day, we still have a virus that is rapidly spreading. Omicron is less serious, but we can’t rest on our laurels now.”
While not wanting to be drawn into the issues surrounding those against vaccination, Mr Sandys emphasised getting jabbed was among the best ways out of the pandemic.
“What people have to remember is that you are not getting vaccinated for just yourself, it is for the whole community,” he said.
“This comes down to personal responsibility. Getting a booster or even your first or second dose will help us return to normal – or as close to it as possible.
“If the government says no more rules are needed, I don’t think that gives people the right to forget about the rules.
“We still need to act sensibly and responsibly.
“I don’t see what’s the big issue with wearing a mask or keeping your distance.
“It’s very simple and something we can keep doing for however long Covid is here.”