​YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE

In line with national figures our rates of infection have continued to rise since my last update on Monday 4th Jan and figures released this morning show that for the SDC area the seven day rate/100,000 is now 338.2/100,000 and the over 60’s day rate is 278.2/100,000 (with 116 cases over the last seven days), which when compared to other districts in Warwickshire for all ages is Nuneaton & Bedworth 485.8/100,000, North Warwickshire 455,1/100,000, Warwick 392.3/100,000 and Rugby 489.3/100,000.  The big jump in cases suggests there may have been a slight time lag in getting the positive case figures with the New Year bank holiday.
 
The situation regarding SWFT Hospital Beds has also increased with 107 (79) confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5 (3) patients in ICU (figures in brackets are from 4 Jan).  However, the capacity has increased to 12% from 9% on 4 January, which also reflects an increase of ‘open’ beds up to 369 from 286 earlier in the week, which is welcome.
 
The cumulative deaths across Stratford District from the start of this second wave (28th August 2020) have sadly increased by a further seven since reporting on Monday to 41 with 11 occurring in care homes, 27 in hospital and three at home, out of a total of 440 all cause deaths in the district for this new second wave period.
 
The cumulative total of deaths across Warwickshire for Wave 2 has now jumped to 202 from 173 since reporting on Monday (which is likely to include some Christmas/New Year lag time) for a total of 1939 all cause deaths.  The cumulative total of Covid-19 deaths in Stratford district is 209 since the start of the pandemic and in Warwickshire 802; over the same period there have been 5485 non Covid-19 related deaths in Warwickshire.
 
A new locally led Lateral Flow Testing facility for people without coronavirus symptoms is opening in Stratford at the Courtyard Theatre next week, with the aim of protecting those most at risk, using rapid testing to speed up the process. 
 
The vaccine rollout has now started and is increasing in GP practices together with the Hospital sites; and WCC is involved with the setting up of a mass vaccination site which will be located in Stoneleigh in due course and will compliment another vaccination facility in Birmingham at Millennium Point. 24,000 vaccinations will have been delivered by the end of this week in Warwickshire and the county is doing ‘quite well’ at a local level than some other counties. 
 
Essentially the three hospital hubs will be using the Pfizer vaccine and local GP’s will be administering the OxfordAZ vaccine.  Roving teams are carrying out vaccinations in care homes amongst staff and residents and it is anticipated to have all care homes in Warwickshire vaccinated by the end of the month, as this is a priority area.
 
The NHS has the capacity locally to deliver 47,000 vaccines per week and the plan is for all the over 50 and clinically vulnerable to be vaccinated by the end of March. 
 
There are currently around 10,300 children still in school across the county representing those who are either vulnerable or children of key workers across Nursery, Primary and Secondary facilities and WCC is working with all schools on establishing Lateral Flow Testing for pupils.
 
Best wishes for the weekend, stay warm and please keep safe, take care and stay home.
 
Kind regards
 
Anne
 
Anne Parry
County Councillor for Wellesbourne Division
SDC Ward Member for Wellesbourne East
SDC Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services