Barnsley Council issue statement over Covid-19 transmission rate amid fears of local lockdown

Barnsley Council have called for residents to have “extra care and vigiliance” amid fears the town could go into local lockdown due to high number of Covid-19 cases.
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Barnsley Council Public Health Director Julia Burrows, Council Leader Sir Steve Houghton CBE and Chair of Barnsley Outbreak Control Engagement Board have issued a joint statement to reassure residents that the town ‘is not currently at risk of going into a further lockdown’.

Residents have been encouraged to maintain social distance, to wash their hands frequently and wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces.

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PLEASE SHARE - Barnsley is not currently at risk of going into a further lockdown.We know the amount of positive Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases might cause concern, but there are many reasons for the numbers - outlined via these images and our statement at https://t.co/TRdps76zCP pic.twitter.com/30gyhVTVI2

Barnsley Council.Barnsley Council.
Barnsley Council.

— Barnsley Council (@BarnsleyCouncil) July 1, 2020

There are fears the town is at risk due to it’s higher than normal transmission rate of coronavirus, Barnsley currently has 54.7 cases per 100,000 people.

It comes a local lockdown was introduced in Leicester which has 140.2 cases in every 100,000 people.

The town’s Director of Public Health and Council Leader identified two ‘key issues’ in Barnsley that they say are being monitored and ‘incorporating into our local control’.

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Barnsley council claim the town has seen higher rates of Covid-19 compared to the national average because of their ‘proactive’ and ‘targeted’ testing, alongside their higher density of care homes, housing an older population than the national average and factors such as smoking.

Leaders also identified ‘a much slower reduction than the national average’ due to local clusters of cases in care homes and workplaces.

“The good news is that now these clusters have started to ease thanks to local control measures, and we are seeing the early signs of a return to the reduction in daily cases across Barnsley.

“According to our most up to date data, we have seen a reduction in the number of daily new cases and in the average number of new cases for four consecutive days. We are continuing to monitor this and other data very closely, and to proactively manage the disease locally and in line with national guidance.

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“This is why we do not believe at this stage any further measures will need to be implemented such as the ones seen in Leicester.”

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