Peterborough remains on coronavirus watchlist despite downward trend of new cases

The watchlist recorded Peterborough’s overall cases per 100,000 of population for the latest week at 11.4, a downward trend on last week’s report which had the city at an overall rate of 28.4, and the week before that at 19.4.

The weekly report from Public health England which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock uses to advise the government, has Peterborough listed as an ‘amber’ area of concern.

The watchlist report stated: “The majority of COVID-19 surveillance indicators suggest that Covid-19 activity remained stable at a national level. Case detections in England increased slightly from 5,019 to 5,401.

Increases in activity were noted in the North West, Yorkshire and Humber and the East Midlands. At a local authority level, incidence was highest in Oldham, followed by Blackburn with Darwen which continues to decrease. Case detections remain highest in adults aged 85 and over and cases in this age group have increased in recent weeks, which may be related to ongoing care homes incidents.

The following local authorities have been included in the watchlist following the weekly Local Action Committee meeting: Pendle, Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Leicester, Calderdale, Burnley, Preston, Rochdale, Manchester, Tameside, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Kirklees, Hyndburn, Stockport, Trafford, Wigan, Rossendale, Luton, Swindon, Northampton, Newark and Sherwood, Oadby and Wigston, Sandwell, Wakefield, Bedford and Peterborough.”

The watchlist also shows Peterborough has a high level of testing with the average number of individuals tested per day per 100,000 of population is 104.

The report said: “The Watchlist is produced by first considering the lower tier local authorities with the highest weekly incidence rate and its trend, combined with a range of other indicators including the test positivity rate, an assessment of the local response and plans, and the trend of other metrics such as healthcare activity and mortality. The classification decision is therefore a blended assessment drawing on professional judgement.”

The Watchlist classification uses three levels:

• Areas of concern — for areas with the highest prevalence, where the local area is taking targeted actions to reduce prevalence e.g. additional testing in care homes and increased community engagement with high risk groups

• Areas for enhanced support — for areas at medium/high risk of intervention where there is a more detailed plan, agreed with the national team and with additional resources being provided to support the local team (eg epidemiological expertise, additional mobile testing capacity)

• Areas of intervention — where there is divergence from the measures in place in the rest of England because of the significance of the spread, with a detailed action plan in place, and local resources augmented with a national support

Three testing facilities remain in operation in Peterborough.

Coronavirus testing will be carried out at Dogsthorpe Community Centre on Saturday, August 15, as well as at Gladstone Park Community Centre on Sunday, August 16. Slots will be available between 10am and 3pm.

You can just turn up for a test, or book online on the NHS website or by phone on 119.

Get tested if you have symptoms of a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

The city’s permanent testing site at the East of England Showground is also open – tests there must be booked.

Anyone with symptoms can book a test by visiting www.nhs.uk

Those unable to access the internet can call 119 to book a test.