Coronavirus: ‘Limit your contact with people you don’t live with’ urges Peterborough’s public health chief

Peterborough’s Director of Public Health has urged people in Peterborough to ‘urgently follow’ public health advice as the city remains an area of concern on the Government’s coronavirus watchlist.
A coronavirus test is deposited at a mobile Covid-19 testing centre in Peterborough.A coronavirus test is deposited at a mobile Covid-19 testing centre in Peterborough.
A coronavirus test is deposited at a mobile Covid-19 testing centre in Peterborough.

Dr Liz Robin, Director of Public Health for Peterborough City Council, said: “The most recent weekly surveillance data and report released by Public Health England shows that Peterborough remains on the national watch list as an ‘area of concern’.

“The PHE detailed data tables show that for the most recent week, 4th - 10th September, Peterborough has 30 cases per 100,000 population, against a national figure of 34 per 100,000. This is an increase for Peterborough compared to the previous week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Transmission of the virus is increasing nationally and so we urgently need people in the city to follow the public health advice. In particular, we need you to limit your contact with people you don’t live with and reduce the number of different households visiting your home. The more households you mix with on a regular basis, the greater your chance of catching the virus.

“Continue to wash your hand regularly and for 20 seconds, wear face coverings in shops, on public transport and in enclosed spaces and keep 2m apart from people you don’t live with (1m with face coverings where this is not possible).

“In addition, if you need to organise a gathering of family and friends after a wedding or civil partnership ceremony, please use a community venue and not your home. The venues have forward plans to prevent transmission of Covid-19. Any event in your house needs to be for six or fewer people with social distancing between households.

“And remember - if you or anyone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus – a raised temperature, new continuous cough or a loss in sense of taste or smell – you and everyone in your household must self-isolate and you must book a test. If you experience a delay in getting a test, please self-isolate in the meantime for the full 10 days.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The city and the country are at a crucial point – please follow this advice and help reduce the spread of the virus. You’ll be keeping your loved ones safe and helping to avoid a second damaging lockdown.”

The new case rates for Peterborough on the watchlist (published every Friday) in recent weeks have been:

July 31 - 19.4

Aug 7 - 28.4

Aug 14 - 11.4

Aug 21 - 16.4

Aug 28 - 12.9

Sept 4 - 21.4

Sept 11 - 27.9

Sept 18 - 30

The areas of intervention on the Government’s watchlist are: Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Oadby and Wigston, Hyndburn, Preston, Warrington, Tameside, Sunderland, Oldham, Birmingham, Bradford, Liverpool, Wirral, Burnley, Knowsley, St Helens, Bury, Salford, Leicester, South Tyneside, Rochdale, Manchester, Gateshead, Solihull, Sandwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, Pendle, Halton, Kirklees, Wolverhampton, Calderdale, Rossendale, South Ribble, Sefton, North Tyneside, West Lancashire, County Durham, Trafford, Chorley, Wyre, Fylde, Northumberland, Lancaster and Ribble Valley.

The watchlist areas of enhanced support and concern are: Leeds, Blaby, Stockport, Selby, Hartlepool, Sheffield, Spelthorne, Corby Middlesbrough, Northampton, Scarborough, Hertsmere, Peterborough, Stoke-on-Trent.

RELATED:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is “widespread growth” of the Covid-19 epidemic across the UK, Government scientists have warned, as ministers announced tough restrictions affecting around 13.5 million people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The UK R number – which represents the number of people an infected person will pass the virus to – has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4, meaning cases can rise very quickly, according to Sage.

Public Health England (PHE) warned that data published on Friday (September 18) could be a sign of “far worse things to come”, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said cases are thought to have almost doubled in a week to 6,000-a-day in England.

Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, described the latest R figure as “undoubtedly concerning”.

He said: “Even at growth rates within the estimated range, the number of new cases could grow to high levels quickly if the interventions are not sufficiently effective.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It comes as ministers discuss whether further national restrictions are needed, such as forcing pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm or curbs on people socialising.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock stressed the focus for now was local intervention, as he announced new restrictions for large parts of England’s North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands.

He pointed to a worrying rise in cases, with Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire – excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester – escalated to “areas of intervention”.

Mr Hancock said: “We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.

“I know these restrictions will make everyday life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.”

Mr Hancock said a second national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus has not been ruled out, but the “great hope” is that people will heed current advice to help manage a “very serious” situation.

He said a national lockdown is the “last line of defence”, as he responded to reports that ministers are considering further national measures, even for just a two-week period, such as imposing a curfew on bars and restaurants.