Stark warning from Kirklees health chief as covid infections and deaths rise 'significantly'

Kirklees Council’s Director of Public Health has issued a stark warning to the whole borough, with rates of COVID-19 and the number of deaths now rising significantly and pressure growing on health services.
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The latest data shows that in the last seven days 515 per 100,000 people in Kirklees tested positive for COVID-19, compared to last week when it was 406 per 100,000 people.

There were 2,262 positive COVID-19 cases in the borough over the last seven days with cases in every single ward.

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This means that Kirklees now has the 13th highest rates in the country.

Dewsbury town centreDewsbury town centre
Dewsbury town centre

Sadly, 18 people in Kirklees died of a COVID-related death in the last week.

In October 2020, 50 people died which is more than any of the previous four months combined. In total, 107 Kirklees people have been admitted to hospital in the week up to October 26.

Alongside the rest of England, Kirklees is now under new lockdown restrictions.

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Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said: “COVID-19 is currently spreading quickly in Kirklees and our rates are now the 13th highest in the country, with more than 2,000 people in the last week becoming infected.

“These are high numbers, and ultimately they mean more people in hospital and more people losing their lives. If our rates continue to increase at the rate they currently are, we seriously risk our health services reaching a tipping point. We can turn this around, but we all have to step up and play our part.

“It doesn’t matter where in Kirklees you live, your role in this is crucial, because every ward in Kirklees is reporting infections and they are continuing to rise.

“On November 5, England went into a national lockdown and the best way we can all help to ease pressure on the NHS and save lives is by following the new guidance and reducing our contact with other households to an absolute minimum for the time-being.

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“In addition to this, social distancing from those outside of your household, wearing a face covering, washing your hands regularly and isolating if you have symptoms all significantly reduce your chances of being infected or infecting someone else.

“We know how difficult this lockdown period will be, but the togetherness and strength Kirklees has shown throughout this pandemic already is what will continue to get us through this. Please look out for each other, as you always do, and thank you for playing your part.”