Covid infection rates in Calderdale go down by half again

NHS Digital seven-day rolling figures for April 4 to April 10, 2021, show a case rate of 27.4 per 100,000 people, with 58 new cases, a 47 per cent decrease on the previous equivalent period which itself had seen cases halved.

Triages – the number of calls from people who think they may have coronavirus to the various NHS lines – were also down four per cent with 85 triages, giving a triage rate of 40 per 100,000 people.

Calderdale’s Director of Public Health, Debs Harkins, recently warned councillors cases were likely to rise as restrictions were eased along the road map out of the second national lockdown, with many more parts of society opening up from April 12.

Urging people to keep up the good work reducing virus transmission, she said: “As more outdoor settings and some parts of our indoor economy reopen, we know that many people will be glad to start getting back to some of the activities they love.

“We’re pleased to safely welcome people back to some of our council services and to our local high streets, which will be a boost for wellbeing, businesses, jobs and our economy.

“It’s still so important to take great care when we’re out and about.

“COVID-19 is still in our communities and many restrictions are still in place to control the virus.

“All our local cases are the Kent new variant, which spreads more easily.

“So the best thing we can all do to support the gradual reopening of our economy and to protect each other is to keep infection rates down by doing the three big things – limit mixing with others, wear a face covering and self-isolate when necessary – and by getting the vaccine when invited.

“Together, we can ensure that Calderdale starts to bounce back as safely as possible.”

The Government’s figures show the number of new positive cases in each area in Calderdale for the seven days to April 7 were as follows.

Todmorden West and Cornholme, 4; Todmorden East and Walsden, fewer than 3; Hebden Bridge, fewer than 3; Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale, fewer than 3; Ripponden, Rishworth and Barkisland, fewer than 3; Greetland and Stainland, 3; Elland, 8; Rastrick West, 5; Rastrick East, 3; Brighouse, 3; Clifton and Bailiff Bridge, 5; Hipperholme, fewer than 3; Northowram and Shelf, 5; Central Halifax and Boothtown, 8; Sowerby Bridge, fewer than 3; Sowerby and Luddenden Foot, fewer than 3; Norton Tower and Mount Tabor, fewer than 3; Savile Park, 3; Skircoat Green, 3; Southowram and Siddal, 3; Pellon East, 10; Pellon West and Highroad Well, fewer than 3; King Cross, fewer than 3; Wheatley and Ovenden West, fewer than 3; Ovenden East, fewer than 3; Mixenden, fewer than 3; and Illingworth and Ogden, fewer than 3.

The Government figures by local area are classed as Middle Super Output Areas – each has an average population of around 7,200.