No Leicester-style lockdown planned for Kirklees says health chief

Health chiefs in Kirklees say a localised lockdow is not being planned. (getty images)

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, the council’s Strategic Director for Public Health, was speaking as a second localised coronavirus outbreak was reported at the Dura Beds factory in Batley.

However she said local infection rates had NOT risen.

The council has confirmed that as of tomorrow it hopes to get “clearer local numbers” on Covid-19 test results via what is known as Pillar 2 data.

Up to now it has relied on information based on swab tests in laboratories, in NHS hospitals and health and care worker test results made available by Public Health England.

This is known as Pillar 1 data.

Pillar 2 data – which includes results of all other tests from at testing centres, at home or in other settings – will be released by the Government tomorrow (July 2).

Ms Spencer-Henshall said: “The inclusion of Pillar 2 data will add a significant number of positive tests to the existing Pillar 1 data for Kirklees.

“It’s important to note that whilst it might appear as though infection rates are now higher, that is not the case.

“More people are just being tested, in particular those with less severe cases that may not have been tested previously.”

She added: “We really welcome this and have been requesting to be able to share it as this will give us a much clearer picture of the levels of infection here in Kirklees.”

Addressing concerns over a potential Leicester-style lockdown, Ms Spencer-Henshall said: “At this point, that is not the case in Kirklees.

“If you take Leicester as an example, their infections are more than four times as high as Kirklees.

“But there is no room for complacency. Everyone needs to keep following the guidance on staying safe to keep numbers as low as possible.

“Public safety is the number one priority as always and we will continue to monitor the situation locally.”