COVID-19 infection rates continue to rise in Herefordshire, with the most recent rate of 86.6 cases per 100,000 (As of 24th October) leading to Herefordshire Council issuing a warning, stating that infection rates rise above 100 cases per 100,000 population, that new restrictions would be put in place.
In the week ending 24th October, Herefordshire saw 167 new cases of COVID-19 recorded, that was an increase of 70.4% on the week before. Since then, things have escalated further and when the latest data is released on Monday, it is expected that Herefordshire will have exceeded the 100 cases per 100,000 population threshold.
136 new cases have been recorded in four days so far this week, meaning that the number of new cases this week is likely to exceed 200.
Will Herefordshire Council take further action?
In a statement released earlier this week, Herefordshire Council stated: “We will need to go into restrictions if we get to 100 cases per 100k. Please keep following the basics – wash your hands, cover your face, and make space.”
Much of the decision will come down to the case rate amongst over 60’s and on how Wye Valley NHS Trust is coping. The last word from Wye Valley NHS Trust was that they are treating ‘a number’ of patients that have tested positive for COVID-19. One ward at Hereford County Hospital has been closed due to an outbreak.
