Covid cases fall to lowest for six months in Duchy

CORONAVIRUS cases in Cornwall have reached their lowest point in six months. The latest data from the Government which indicates which parts of the country have coronavirus clusters – an area with more than three cases – reports that, in the week ending March 2, there were 97 cases in Cornwall.

It is the lowest number of coronavirus cases since the week ending September 15, 2020, when there were 56 cases. The statistics come as children returned to school yesterday in the first phase of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s road map out of lockdown

The current rolling rate of the virus in Cornwall is 17 cases per 100,000 people and represents a decrease of 77 cases compared to the previous week.

Of the 97 cases reported, 65 were in areas where there are clusters of infections, meaning that 32 of the cases are in areas where there are one or two cases.

The Government does not give locations for areas where there are less than three cases to protect the identity of infected individuals, meaning that between 16 and 32 areas may have either one or two coronavirus cases.

It also represents a sharp fall since this time last month, when Cornwall reported 638 coronavirus cases in the seven days ending February 2, while two months ago, in the week ending January 5, there were 1,997 cases at a time where Cornwall reported the highest total since the pandemic began.

While we will have to wait until March 29 until we can see more people outdoors, from yesterday people were allowed to meet one other person outdoors for social activities, such as meeting for a coffee outside. The previous rules stipulated that people could only meet one other individual outside for exercise, with social activities prohibited.

Other changes that came into place yesterday include the reopening of schools and colleges to all students and people on practical higher education courses. Students in secondary schools are now being requested to wear a mask in classrooms.

Secondary school reopenings will be staggered over the week, because students will also be required to take a rapid lateral flow test before being allowed to school. They will also be given additional tests to test themselves at home twice a week.

Other rules allow for ‘wraparound’ child care as well as funerals being limited to 30 people, while wakes and weddings are restricted to six attendees. The next phase of changes is set to take place on March 29 and will see the reintroduction of the “rule of six” outdoors in any setting, including private gardens. Indoor mixing will still be banned. Outdoor leisure facilities will be set to reopen, along with the restart of organised outdoor sports for children and adults.

The stay at home legal restriction will also be scrapped and replaced with a “minimise travel” guidance. Cornwall Council recently issued a warning to people thinking of travelling down at the end of the stay-athome rule, in light of the fact that holidays are still prohibited before April 12 at the earliest.

Councillor Rob Nolan, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for environment and public protection, said: “The stay-at-home rule ends on March 29, but it does talk of people continuing to work from home.”