Coronavirus: St Helens Council taking 'each day as it comes'

On Friday, St Helens – and the whole of Merseyside – was placed on the Government’s coronavirus watch list as an ‘area of concern’.

This means the Government will closely monitor the infection rate in across Merseyside and will impose further restrictions if cases continue to surge.

Over the weekend, another 54 cases were added to the cumulative total for St Helens in the 48 hours to 9am on Sunday, according to Public Health England data.

Another 14 cases were added today.

Newton-le-Willows has seen the highest number of infections over the past week, and saw a mobile testing unit deployed to the area on Saturday.

It is understood the testing unit was secured following a direct request to Health Secretary Matt Hancock from St Helens North MP and Shadow Home Office Minister, Conor McGinn.

The Labour MP intervened after a growing number of residents complained they could not secure a test in the borough, with Haydock Park Racecourse experiencing capacity issues.

A mobile testing unit was deployed to Earlestown on Saturday

Case numbers will likely rise as the results from the mobile testing unit begin to come back, but Mr McGinn said residents should not be alarmed.

Mr McGinn said: “I think it was really important that we had some local testing over the weekend to give us an accurate picture of what is happening, but it would probably also mean that the figures are quite high. That shouldn’t unduly alarm people because they will be accurate.

“People do need to take this seriously right across the borough and right across Merseyside. I have confidence and trust in people here locally to stick to the guidelines and adhere to them.

“There’s been a lot of mixed messages from Government. It’s everybody’s responsibility to follow the guidelines, to look after themselves.

“And I would appeal particularly to our young people because I know they’ve had a really difficult few months. It has been really hard but they need to follow these guidelines, not only to protect themselves but to protect their families and our communities as a whole.

“I hope we’ll have more information in the middle of the week and we’ll then make an assessment about what the next steps are but it’s clear that across the country rates are increasing, that’s particularly acute here in Merseyside.

“We’ve seen that in the rates, so we all have a job to try and get those down.”

Following the rise over the past week, it is understood the council will be sending ward councillors a daily update on case numbers.

This first update, which came today, showed that there were 144 cases between September 4 to 10, equating to an infection rate of 79.9, per 100,000 population.

The greatest number of cases were in Earlestown, with 39, equating to an infection rate of 334.6.

The second number of cases was in Newton, with 33 cases, equating to an infection rate of 264.7.

The data covers the period between September 4-10 and was sent to councillors on Monday

Public health chiefs will be closely watching the infection rate over the coming days, with further restrictions looming, although far from palatable.

Cllr Anthony Burns, cabinet member of public health, leisure, libraries, arts and heritage, said the local authority will take “take each day as it comes”.

The Labour councillor was also critical of Boris Johnson’s Government, accusing them of giving “mixed messages”, highlighting the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme as an example.

Cllr Anthony Burns believes the Eat Out to Help Put scheme sent out mixed messages

“They just needed to be a whole lot clearer,” Cllr Burns said.

“It’s been really, really difficult for us to tell people because they don’t know what’s going on because the Government is changing their minds every two minutes.

“We just need to give a very clear and concise message. And I think because of that people kind of think it’s either gone or it doesn’t matter.

“It hasn’t gone, and it does matter and it’s important that people take care and follow the guidelines.”