Latest local data from Council as they use football analogy, “if we stop trying now and stop working as a team, we could still lose the game”

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This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 6th, 2021

Wrexham as a whole is now fourth in Wales, with 65 per 100k population on a seven-day rolling basis.

That’s worse than last week, but a big improvement considering we were the worst in Wales for much of January and February.

Wrexham Council have issued another more positive update (the detailed data copied below) on the local situation of the pandemic, however with a cautious note: “We’ve all been through a lot, but things are getting better.”

“Infection rates continue to fall across Wrexham as a whole, and although the drop has slowed in recent days, we can see how lockdown has helped us get on top again. Pressure on the NHS has eased a little, and with the vaccination programme continuing to rollout, things are definitely improving. If we relax too soon, or start ignoring lockdown rules at the first hint of spring, we’ll be back to square one.

The new data shows parts of the county borough continue to fall, although some areas have got slightly worse this week. A per 100k population figure is used to normalise the data and allow comparisons of areas, with the increased areas including:

Hermitage and Whitegate – 103 per 100k (compared to 57 last week).
New Broughton and Bryn Cefn – 103 per 100k (compared to 64 last week).
Cefn Mawr – 76 per 100k (compared to 33 last week).
Ruabon and Marchwiel – 75 per 100k (compared to less than 31 last week).

The council added a football analogy, “It’s worth noting that some parts of the county borough have seen small increases in recent days. Think of it like a football match. There’s 20 minutes to go and we’re one-nil up, but if we stop trying now and stop working as a team, we could still lose the game.”

“Keep giving it your best, and stick to the rules.”

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, 5^th March 2021

COMMUNICATIONS

Please share – on social media and directly with your communities – this document, the bilingual GIFs sent to you via email and the Council’s pubic briefing note: https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/covid-19-briefing-note-were-one-nil-up-but-the-game-isnt-over/

DATA ON THE VIRUS

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

Comment

The rate of infection in Wrexham as a whole continues to fall, though much more slowly. The latest 7-day rate per 100,000 population is 65, compared to 68 a week ago and 122 two weeks ago. Positivity is 6.8%, up from 5.5% a week ago, but down from 9.5% two weeks ago. These are still amongst the lowest figures since September 2020, before the second wave of infections began. Wrexham is now 4^th place in Wales compared to 13^th last week for the rate per 100k and 5^th compared to 17^th last week for positivity.

Local household transmission remains the principal driver of the disease.

The Maelor Hospital is no longer experiencing an outbreak.

Deaths are continuing to reduce, but, sadly, more than 400 people died in North Wales during the second wave over the winter.

TABLE 2: Covid-19 in the Sub-Areas of Wrexham (MSOA areas used by PHW in its Tableau)

Comment

The situation continues to improve throughout Wrexham too, but with some exceptions.

14 of the 18 sub-areas have improved or seen only slight upward fluctuations of low numbers, since last week. The four which has got worse are:

Hermitage & Whitegate – 103/100,000 population, compared to 57 last week

New Broughton & Bryn Cefn – 103/100,000 population, compared to 64 last week

Cefn Mawr – 76/100,000 population, compared to 33 last week

Ruabon & Marchwiel – 75/100,000 population, compared to less than 31 last week

Only 2 are in the worst decile (10%) in Wales (more than 104/100k). This is mainly due to the threshold for this decile being lower than it was a week ago (137).

4 have more than 100/100k compared to 4 last week, but none of these has more than 9 cases:

Borras & Rhosnesni – 124/100k which is the same as last week

Gwersyllt West & Summerhill – 118/100k, which is the same as last week

Hermitage & Whitegate – 103/100,000 population, compared to 57 last week

New Broughton & Bryn Cefn – 103/100,000 population, compared to 64 last week

11 have seen their lowest rates since 20^th October 2020 (when PHW started publishing these data) compared to 12 last week.

9 have less than 70/100k, the old Welsh Government trigger for lockdown, compared to 9 last week.

MANAGING THE VIRUS

Overall – The Level-4 Alert lockdown in place since December 2020 has significantly reduced the rate of infection. Welsh Government will review the measure next week.

Education

Foundation year pupils (aged 3 to 7) began to return to school last Friday

All other primary school pupils (years 3 to 6) will be back in school by 15^th March

Secondary school pupils in years 11 and 13 (exam years) will also be back on 15^th March, along with some pupils in years 10 and 12 who are taking exams.

All other secondary school pupils will be back in school full-time from 12^th April (i.e. after the Easter holidays).

Schools may offer a ‘check-in session’ for years 7, 8 and 9 prior to Easter. If this is the case, the schools will be in touch with details.

Other Council Services – the Council is continuing to provide critical services as publicised on our website and many other services too.

The Vaccination Programme

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

Comment

More than 250,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in North Wales with nearly 40,000 in Wrexham, compared to 207,000 and 36,000, respectively, last week.

Vaccine rollout continues through the Mass and Local Vaccine Centres and GP Practices.

Vaccine volumes are expected to increase imminently which will see a significant increase in those being vaccinated.

Work is occurring to rollout vaccines to unpaid carers (family) and to ensure that all eligible individuals are offered the vaccine.

Health partners are working with the Council to discuss how best to access harder to reach groups like the Gypsy & Traveller community and the homeless.

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

Wales – https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/about-the-vaccine

North Wales: https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-information/ and Vaccinations statistics – Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)