LOCKDOWN UPDATE

Hi everyone and here we are again, but now into August; and in today’s update I particularly want to emphasise that this is no time for complacency.  Whilst the figures week on week are encouraging across our district, it is really important that we continue to respect the infection control measures to ensure we resist the growing trends in virus spikes and regional hotspots.  
 
This means wearing masks whenever we go out shopping or are in public places indoors and continue to reflect the government guidelines in terms of meeting groups of people from other households. 
 
The increases in cases across the region are coming from the community and the new weekly COVID-19 rates coming out of Public Health Warwickshire (PHW) show Nuneaton and Bedworth to have the highest rate in the West Midlands.  Otherwise, there is no current geographical clustering of cases, which are mainly in households and PHW is continuing to work with the Districts and Borough Councils to support ongoing action to support communities to keep their distance, wash their hands, wear face coverings, and test and isolate appropriately. These actions remain our critical defence.  
 
Test and Trace – national activity 
There has been a slight downward trend in people taking tests, and given that there is a widespread concern about a ‘rising tide’ of cases almost across the board in terms of geography and demography it’s particularly important to maintain public focus on virus containment.  
 
Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Beacon update 
We are beginning to see an increase in incidents and outbreaks across the region. These are broadly in line with expectations given the relaxation of restrictions and shielding measures and the increased movement of people in general.  
 
The Outbreak Control Plan and local implementation plans are standing up to the increase in activity, and each unique incident or outbreak is being used to inform adaptations to the plans in real time.  
 
Coventry and Warwickshire are working together to procure a case management system that is compatible not only across the areas, but also with Solihull’s system so that a clearer overall picture can be easily seen across the sub-region.  
 
Responding to intelligence specific to each area, each authority has this week begun to target settings that have been identified at being at a higher risk of virus transmission with tailored information on what to do in the event of an outbreak. Letters have been shared with business networks to assist employers with being clear on what to do when staff test positive, and to emphasise the local support offer. This is part of a proactive campaign to educate and inform leaders. 
 
COVID-19 Update  
The cumulative cases across the county are now 2622 up from 2552 with confirmed cases in Stratford on Avon District remaining at 532 since the previous week. These cases include data from both Pillar 1 (hospitals and NHS settings) and also Pillar 2 (community). Testing is continuing at Stratford College and the Track and Trace initiative is continuing to work well.  
   
Out of the 422 SWFT Hospital Beds there are NO inpatient cases of COVID-19 at present and NO patients are in the intensive care unit.  The cumulative deaths across Stratford District has increased by one in the last week to 168 with the deaths in care home remaining at 82 from a cumulative of 972 ‘all cause deaths’ in the district. The cumulative total of all COVID-19 deaths in Warwickshire is now 591 (up three over the week) and over the same period there have been 3218 non COVID-19 related deaths in Warwickshire.  Across the county there has been a total of 211 COVID-19 deaths in care homes settings (no increase in the last week) compared to 1126 ‘all cause deaths’ in care homes over the same period.    
   
The capacity in hospitals remains excellent with no beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. There are 45% of beds occupied by Non-COVID-19 patients, 12% beds occupied with suspected COVID-19 patients and a spare capacity of 42% reinforcing that the NHS is getting back to business!   
 
Wishing you all a great weekend! Keep safe, healthy and socially distanced and continue to support our local businesses.  
   
 Kind regards 
 Anne  
 Anne Parry
Warwickshire County Councillor for Wellesbourne Division
Ward Member for Wellesbourne East