Public Health Director for Herefordshire Karen Wright has blamed the mixing of households prior to the lockdown in England for the recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Herefordshire.
Karen Wright said:
“The reality is the number of cases is rising across the whole country and neighbouring authorities. The data we are seeing today is coming through from the end of half-term and prior to the lockdown.
“We are still seeing the effects of Halloween and pre-lockdown activity across the county of people going to meet their family because they knew we were going into lockdown. I do expect those figures to come down. I would expect lockdown to have an impact soon.
“We are hearing examples across Herefordshire of family still going into the houses of vulnerable people and not social distancing. People are allowed one household in their support bubble and if people are going out you should follow the rules. There are more cases in the community now so it’s best to think that everybody around including yourself has the virus.”
Herefordshire Council issued a ‘High Alert’ for Redhill, Hunderton, Newton Farm, Lower Bullingham and Belmont over the weekend. In many parts of these areas, infection rates continue to sharply rise, with levels in HEREFORD SOUTH (Redhill, Putson & Hinton) now exceeding 500 cases per 100,000 population. However, levels in HEREFORD SOUTH WEST (Newton Farm, Hunderton & Oval) have fallen slightly, hopefully indicating a change in direction in this part of the city.
INFECTION RATES IN HEREFORD:
HEREFORDSHIRE – 347 new cases (Infection rate of 180 cases per 100,000 population. This is UP from 163.4 yesterday)
HEREFORD SOUTH – 52 new cases (Infection rate of 531.8 cases per 100,000 population. This is UP from 449.9)
HEREFORD SOUTH WEST – 33 new cases (Infection rate of 399.9 cases per 100,000 population. This is DOWN from 435.3)
HEREFORD EAST – 21 new cases (Infection rate of 350.5 cases per 100,000 population)
HEREFORD CENTRAL – 30 new cases (Infection rate of 298 cases per 100,000 population)
HEREFORD WEST – 19 new cases (Infection rate of 264.8 cases per 100,000 population)
HEREFORD NORTH WEST – 20 new cases (Infection rate of 215.2 cases per 100,000 population)
HEREFORD NORTH EAST – 10 new cases (Infection rate of 129 cases per 100,000 population)
