St Helens coronavirus infection rate passes 200 mark

Tighter rules on household mixing in parts of the North West are expected to be announced in the coming days, as infection rates across the region continue to soar.

This comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said mixing between households in any indoor setting, such as pubs and restaurants, will be against the law in the North East from Wednesday.

READ > Public health boss has this message for Rainford following high school closure

The Government is now expected to turn its attention to the North West, where some areas have higher even infection rates.

Knowsley’s infection rate has rocketed to the highest in England, with 422 new cases recorded in the seven days to September 25 – the equivalent of 279.7 cases per 100,000 people.

In St Helens, the latest data public health shows that, between September 20 to 26, the borough’s infection rate was 202.7, from 365 cases.

A week earlier, between September 13 and 19, the infection rate stood at 111.6 from 201 cases.

On Monday night, council leaders across Merseyside and Cheshire met with Public Health England and the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, to discuss the perilous situation and possible new lockdown measures.

St Helens Borough Council leader David Baines attended the call and said no firm details were provided about the measures, although further restrictions for the region now look “likely”.

Cllr Baines said: “As a result of the continued rise in numbers of confirmed Covid-19 infections in St Helens borough and the wider region, we have been informed that the Government is likely to soon impose further restrictions.

“Yesterday evening I attended a meeting with Public Health England and the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, but sadly no firm detail was given regarding new regulations or when they will be introduced, and there was no confirmation at all about financial support for businesses.

“Our economy is already facing huge challenges due to Covid and it is vital that any further lockdown measures be accompanied by a comprehensive support package for business, and in particular our local hospitality industry.

“Alongside our MPs Conor McGinn and Marie Rimmer, and colleagues from across the region including Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, I will continue to make this case to Government.

“As soon as we have confirmation of the detail of any new measures, St Helens Borough Council will of course do all we can to share accurate and clear information with residents and businesses.

“In the meantime we all need to continue to play our part and take every possible care to help stop the spread of the virus.”

According to the latest public health data, the number of new cases and the infection rate is increasing across St Helens, with a number of areas seeing relatively big rises.

Newton and Earlestown, however, which have been particular hotspots in recent weeks, have now started to see their infection rates slow down.

Between September 20 to 26, the greatest number of cases were recorded in Eccleston, jumping from 18 to 45.

Eccleston’s infection rate was also higher than anywhere else, increasing from 152.3 to 380.8 per 100,000 people.

Rainhill also saw a big rise in cases, increasing from 12 to 34 between September 20 to 26, equating to an infection rate of 310.6, up from 109.6 the previous week.

Most of the cases during this period were found in people aged 30 to 44, with 93 people testing positive, followed by the 45 to 59 demographic (81).

A total of 68 people who tested positive were aged between 18 to 29.

Worryingly, 58 people aged 60 to 79 tested positive for Covid-19, while 10 people aged 80+ also tested positive.

Whiston Hospital

Hospital admissions have been rising locally for a number of weeks, and this upward trend is showing no signs of petering out.

A spokesman for St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said it is continuing to see a “worrying rise” in admissions, with Whiston’s A&E department also coming under increasing pressure.

READ > Government considering total social lockdown for Merseyside

The Local Democracy Reporting Service also understands that three people currently being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit, up from one person a week ago.

Whiston Hospital saw its first coronavirus-related death earlier this month, with a patient dying on September 18 after testing positive for Covid-19.

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Whiston, St Helens and Newton hospitals, has recorded 210 coronavirus deaths since the start of the outbreak in mid-March.