Covid rates in Wokingham expected to rise

COVID rates in Wokingham are expected to rise further as Omicron variant continues to make its presence felt.

While it was at 1,600 per 100,000 at the start of the year, it had dropped to just over 1,000 last week, but is now rising.

Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr John Halsall said: “The new year started with a welcome decline in rates although with schools returning and the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant in an unvaccinated, in primary settings, and therefore susceptible population, this decline has been short lived.

“Rates are now back on the rise and are currently just over 1,350 per 100,000. The current rate reflects the week 13-19 January.

“We expect this to rise further, as daily case numbers continue to increase.”

He said that most cases were among school-age children and their parents.

“The past month has seen, and continues to see, a flurry of new and changed guidance for us all to follow,” Cllr Halsall continued.

“This is sometimes hard to keep pace with.

“Officers are working relentlessly to translate new guidance for our residents.”

And Cllr Halsall urged people to get their booster jab to help the situation. More than two-thirds of residents (67%) aged 12 or over have taken up the offer.

“We continue to work with our healthcare colleagues to ensure that the vaccine offer reaches all our residents across the Borough,” he said.

While Plan B restrictions had been lifted, meaning the end of mask-wearing indoors, and the mandate to work from home where possible, it was hoped that the borough would continue to take Covid-19 seriously.

“We continue to encourage residents to take precautions where there is the risk of Covid transmission,” Cllr Halsall said.

“We call upon all our residents and partners to be as patient as they can as services are operating under significant staffing pressure.

“With one eye to the spring, there will continue to be much change over the coming weeks whilst case rates remain high and rising; we must remain cautious and continue to employ all measures we can to keep our communities as safe as possible and reduce transmission as much as we can.”