YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE

Some more positive news this week, which is encouraging, but of course we must all be aware of not getting complacent.
 
The number of cases appear to be levelling and down slightly to 68/100,000 from 75 last week, but the over 60’s rate has continued to fall to 17/100,000 (34 last week) with just 7 cases over the last seven days – which when compared to other districts in Warwickshire for all ages is Nuneaton & Bedworth 55/100,000, North Warwickshire 74/100,000, Warwick 43/100,000 and Rugby 105/100,000.  Most of the cases are coming from schools and young adults.
 
Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to sign up for the free lateral flow testing kit service to test employees (without symptons) twice a week – click on to the following link  Register to order free rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests for your employees - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) which is free if you register by 31 March.  The home testing service is still available to everyone with COVID-19 symptoms, and can still be accessed through the home testing online portal.
 
Continuing this positive note, the situation regarding SWFT Hospital Beds has also improved and there are now 4 (6) confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2 (1) patients in ICU (figures in brackets are from 19 March).  Capacity levels have slightly increased with 83 unoccupied general and acute beds but the occupancy levels are now 77% which focuses on non-Covid patients for elective surgery etc.
 
Sadly, the cumulative deaths across Stratford District have increased again by two over the last week and now number 138 from the start of this second wave (28th August 2020) 37 occurring in care homes, 89 in hospital, one in a hospice and 10 at home and one in a communal establishment, out of a total of 847 all cause deaths in the district for this new second wave period. 
 
The cumulative total of deaths across Warwickshire for Wave 2 has now increased to 641 from 634 last week within a total of 3512 all cause deaths.  The cumulative total of Covid-19 deaths in Stratford district is 306 since the start of the pandemic and in Warwickshire 1241.
 
The locally led Lateral Flow Testing facility for people WITHOUT coronavirus symptoms in Stratford has now carried out 22,185 tests with 83 positive results.
 
Have a good weekend everyone and let’s just keep being positive and keep up the good work in protecting ourselves and other people.  Take care.
 
Kind regards
 
Anne
 
Anne Parry
County Councillor for Wellesbourne Division
SDC Ward Member for Wellesbourne East
SDC Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services