“Let’s continue to be responsible” as latest local pandemic update released

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

The usual tables are not included this week, but there is the normal localised data.

If you want to check the figures where you live, visit the Public Health Wales data dashboard and click on the ‘MSOA’ tab, and select Wrexham on the right hand side to get a zoomed in map.

The council, who run the Test Trace Protect system for Wrexham and therefore have the data on positive cases and their locations and spread say, “Local household transmission of the ‘UK/Kent’ variant, rather than workplace transmission, remains the principal driver of the disease and there are no cases of the other ‘variants of concern’.”

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

Covid-19: WCBC Weekly Briefing Note, 26^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 following link to the Council’s pubic briefing note: https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/covid-19-briefing-note-please-stay-in-wales-from-tomorrow-march-27/

KEY MESSAGE: Infection rates continue to fall but we remain in lockdown, so let’s continue to be responsible as changes to our ability to travel are gradually introduced

General Overview

This weekend marks the start of a change in our ability to move around wales with “stay local” messages replaced by “stay in wales” messages. We should use these new freedoms responsibly, and support the continued drive to keep coronavirus rates low.

Only by doing so will we see further changes in the coming weeks and months

Local Data

• The rate of infection fell rapidly from mid-January to mid-February, then stuck at around 65/100,000 population for two weeks. The latest 7-day rate per 100k is 29.4 compared to 30.9  a week ago and 66 two weeks ago. Positivity is 2.8% compared to 3.5% a week ago and 6.6% two weeks ago. These are the lowest figures since September 2020, before the second wave of infections began and Wrexham is now 13^th in Wales for the rate per 100k.

• Local household transmission of the ‘UK/Kent’ variant, rather than workplace transmission, remains the principal driver of the disease and there are no cases of the other ‘variants of concern’.

The situation continues to have improved throughout Wrexham over the last 7 days, though with some exceptions in local areas;

• 1 has more than 100/100,000 population equal to 1 last week but it is now a different area:

• • Hermitage & Whitegate – 114.2/100k, increase of 23 from the previous week (10 cases)

• Only 2  are in the worst decile (10%) in Wales (more than 75.9/100k). Three areas in the second decile (51.9 – 75.8 /100K)

• 14 have less than 70/100k, the old Welsh Government trigger for a lockdown, compared to 16 last week.

• 13 are in the lowest decile in Wales, compared to 9 last week.

Council Services 

• Education
  • All primary school pupils are back at school.
  • Secondary school pupils in years 11 and 13 (exam years) and some in years 10 and 12 who are taking exams are also back at school
  • All other secondary school pupils will be back full-time from 12^th April

• Other Council Services – the Council is continuing to provide critical services as publicised on our website and many other services too, other than public access to Council buildings.

Vaccination update T

The vaccination programme remain on course to meet the 5^th April target of inviting all people in Priority Groups 1 to 9 to have their first vaccination:

• • People aged 60+ (Priority Group 7), will be invited to book an appointment by 22^nd March
  • People aged 55-59 (Priority Group 8), will be invited to book an appointment by 29^th March
  • People aged 50-54 (Priority Group 9), will be invited to book an appointment by 5^th April

• The rest of the adult population (Priority Group 10) will be invited to book an appointment by the end of July, though it is possible that this date will be brought forward.

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)

This week the local health board – with support from GPs – will pass the milestones of providing 300,000 first doses and 400,000 total vaccinations in North Wales.

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective

Please be assured that the Covid-19 vaccines currently licensed for use are safe and effective.

The results from a US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine show that it’s 79% effective at stopping symptomatic Covid-19 disease and 100% effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill.