Latest detailed council update: Figures are falling but “continued effort is needed”

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Feb 20th, 2021

The latest local update has been published by Wrexham Council, detailing the precise local area figures.

Wrexham Council have said, “Things are improving. Lockdown is having an impact and cases are going down rapidly. But (and it’s a massive ‘but’) Wrexham still has the second highest coronavirus levels in Wales (122 per 100k population on a seven-day rolling basis). Basically, if we drop our guard, we’ll be back to square one.”

“Lockdown is still in place and will only be relaxed gradually, and it’s vital we all keep sticking to the rules.”

Misinformation is also challenged, with the Council noting: “If you have any questions about Covid-19 vaccination, it’s important to get the facts from people who know what they’re talking about.

“And let’s face it…that bloke who lives down the road might not be an expert…despite what he says on Facebook.

“Follow Public Health Wales (PHW) on social media, and get answers from people who really know their stuff.”

The full council update is copied in full below, as usual any bolding or italics is from Wrexham Council:

Covid-19: WCBC Weekly Briefing Note, 19^th February 2021

COMMUNICATIONS

Please share this document and the attached bilingual GIFs on social media and in your communities.

The key messages today are:

Figures are falling, but the lockdown remains in place for at least a further three weeks
Priority 1- 4 groups have been vaccinated and second doses are now being prioritised
Eligibility criteria for the £500 self-isolation support payments have been widened and the scheme extended until October.

A link to today’s Council public briefing note, which you may also share on social media, is provided here: https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/covid-19-briefing-note-back-to-square-one-no-thanks/

DATA ON THE VIRUS

TABLE 1: Covid-19 in the County Borough as a whole compared to other Councils in North Wales

Comment

The figures have fallen rapidly and consistently over the last few weeks. The rate per 100,000 population is now 122, compared to 199 last week, and positivity is 9.5%, compared to 13.3% last week. These are the lowest figures since late last September 2020, just as the second wave of infections began and Wrexham has fallen from worst place in Wales to 2^nd for the rate per 100k and 4^th for positivity. However, continued effort is needed over the next few months to suppress the infection.

The small number of ‘South Africa’ variant cases in North Wales has increased by one, which was not travel-related. There are no cases of the much more worrying variants, but it is to be expected that new variants will emerge until transmission of the disease is completely suppressed.

Local household transmission remains the principal driver of the disease, rather than workplaces or travel.

Hospital admissions and deaths due to Covid-19 continue to decline, but the Health Board has reported that the Maelor Hospital remains under pressure.

TABLE 2: Covid-19 in the Sub-Areas of Wrexham (as used by PHW in their Tableau)

Comment

Overall, things are improving within Wrexham too.
16 of the 18 sub-areas of Wrexham have improved since last week, but 2 have got worse (compared to 3 last Friday):
- Town North, University & Rhos-ddu – 236/100k, significantly up from 101 on the 12^th
- Acton & Maes-y-dre – 178, compared to 79 on the 12^th, but low numbers anyway

Only 2 have more than 200 (the new ‘hot spots’, but not nearly as hot as the ones that were recording 700+ only a few weeks ago) compared to 8 on the 12^th:
- Town North, University & Rhos-ddu – 236/100k, significantly up from 101 on the 12^th
- Coedpoeth & Brymbo – 208, but slightly down from 219 on the 12^th

Only 4 are in the worst decile (10%) in Wales, compared to 8 on the 12^th Again, this is entirely due to the threshold for this decile being much lower (163/100k) than it was on the 12^th (192), reflecting the fact that cases continue to fall much more quickly elsewhere.

7 have seen their lowest rates since 20^th October 2020 (when PHW started publishing these data).

MANAGING THE VIRUS

Overall – The Level-4 Alert lockdown in place since December 2020 has significantly reduced the rate of infection. Today, the First Minister announced that it will remain in force for three more weeks, but that if rates continue to fall, WG will consider a gradual relaxation after that, starting with schools. In the longer term, it is looking at relaxing non-essential retail and hairdressers and then self-contained tourist accommodation.
Schools – Foundation years primary pupils are set to return from 26^th February. The First Minister expressed the hope that those aged 8 to 11 and Year 11 and 13 secondary pupils will be able to return to school from 15^th March, if Covid-19 rates continue to fall at the same rates.

Other Council Services – the Council is continuing to provide critical services as publicised on our website and many other services too, with colleagues working from home.

The Vaccination Programme

TABLE 3: Summary of data on the Rollout of the Vaccine in Wales, North Wales and Wrexham

Comment

Nearly 200,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in North Wales and more than 31,000 in Wrexham.

Priority 1 to 4 groups have all been offered a vaccine, but General Practitioners will be working to ensure that any remaining individuals who have not received one have the opportunity to do so.

The focus for the Mass Vaccination Centres and Health Vaccination Centres is on providing second doses to health and social care workers. The Local Vaccination Centre at the Catrin Finch Centre will be in use for one day, doing likewise, but will resume full operation on the 8^th of March as more of the vaccine becomes available.

Information and statistics on vaccinations can be found via the following links: