Top public health boss has issued a warning ahead of the latest Government review and the Bank Holiday weekend
Leicester is at a ‘tipping point’ with coronavirus where infection rates could continue to fall or go up again, its top public health official has warned.
The city is awaiting the latest Government review of the Leicester Lockdown restrictions which currently ban people from meeting at home or in gardens but its director of public health Professor Ivan Browne has indicated that measure will remain in place.
Speaking ahead of an announcement of the review conclusions Prof Browne said: “In recent weeks we have seen a lifting of many of the restrictions that have been placed on Leicester.
“The (infection rate) numbers are still not where we would like them to be.
“We remain at a tipping point where the numbers could go up or down.”
He added: “We know lots of people have made sacrifices but there are a few who are not complying with the guidance and encouragement we are giving them to make sure this virus doesn’t spread.”
Prof Browne said, ahead of the Bank Holiday Weekend it was important people stuck to the rules urging them not to go to other people’s homes, to get tested immediately if they have Covid-19 symptoms,
He said people who test positive should isolate for 10 days and their family members should do so for 14 days.
He added: “We need to continue to do this work to get into the best possible position we van as the winter approaches.
“As we continue to defend ourselves and those we love, let’s do this now and do this together.”
There are clear signs the household gathering restrictions are working.
Leicester’s seven-day coronavirus infection rate has dropped again this week.
The rate, which has been referenced in previous Government reviews of the local restrictions, now stands at 31.8 cases per 100,000 people, meaning there’s been a significant drop since earlier this week when it was 42.2 cases per 100,000 people.
The rate is calculated using data collected in the seven days before August 24.
For context, when the local lockdown was first announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock , Leicester’s seven-day infection rate was three times higher than the next area and stood at 135 cases per 100,000 people.
The drop also means that Leicester now has the sixth highest seven-day rate in the country. Previously the city has never been lower than number three in the national totals.
