COVID infection rates are rising swiftly across St Helens again, but hospital admissions are still low at this stage, according to latest official data.
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was caring for four coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, NHS England figures show.
NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in local hospitals for Covid-19 by 8am on June 15 was up from three on the same day the previous week.
There was one bed occupied by a Covid-19 patient four weeks ago at the NHS Trust.
Across England there were 1,030 people in hospital with Covid as of June 15, with 187 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.
The figures show that four new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the week to June 13.
READ> When and where you can have a Covid vaccine in St Helens without an appointment
Hospital leaders are closely monitoring the situation to see if the rise in cases across the community– driven by the Delta variant – translates into hospital admissions.
The hope is that the high number of vaccinations across St Helens will help protect people from serious illness.
Nearly two-thirds of people in St Helens have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
NHS data shows 92,548 people had received both jabs by June 13 – 63% of those aged 16 and over, based on the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
As reported yesterday, volunteers have been heading out into the Wargrave community to tackle surging numbers of Covid-19 cases.
They are talking to residents and delivering testing kits to households.
The action will take place across this weekend and into next week.
Wargrave is among the areas of the borough of St Helens with the highest rates.
High schools are also being encouraged to bring back on site testing for pupils, with support from St Helens Council.
Parents are encouraged to get their children to take part in the scheme at their school.
More than 100 cases of Covid were identified across St Helens over the past week, with the Delta variant fuelling the rapid rise.
St Helens was made an Enhanced Response Area at the beginning of the week as the Cheshire and Merseyside regions recorded a rapid rise in the number of cases being dealt with.
A leaflet sent out to residents today
Ruth du Plessis, director of Public Health, added: “In St Helens borough our rates have doubled in the last 10 days and rapid increases in the past few days.
"We have been dealing with a sustained period of transmission in both Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown and while initially this was linked to outbreaks outside the area we have started to see people not sure of where they have caught it from, indicating community spread.
"This is why we feel it’s important that in this area everyone takes a symptom free rapid test which is easy to do at home and gives you results within 30 minutes.
"Our teams will be out and about in Wargrave calling in at homes to drop off test kits and chat about vaccinations.
“This is just one of the measures we’re taking to tackle our rapidly increasing rates of Covid-19.
"Unfortunately we are starting to see the rapid growth in cases that other parts of the North West have already experienced. Now more than ever it’s vital that you get your vaccine, with everyone over the age of 18 eligible by the end of this week, there is no excuse not to get one soon."
Vaccination rates in St Helens are high – but there is now a major push to get younger ages to have their first jab and for older age groups to bring forward their second, where possible.
Ms du Plessis added: “The vaccination hub at the Totally Wicked Stadium will be hosting drop in days next Tuesday and Friday where you don’t need an appointment and can get your Pfizer vaccine from 8am to 7pm with a break at 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
"If you can’t make those days there are hundreds of appointments available to book every day of the week at the centre.
“It’s also vital that those who are waiting for second jabs to check if they can move theirs forward from 12 weeks to 8 weeks as we know that having two jabs really bolsters the body’s defences against serious illness from Covid-19.
"The Vaccination Bus will also be out and about delivering Oxford-AstraZeneca first and second doses to those over 40.
"Allied Pharmacy on Bold Industrial Estate is also offering walk in appointments with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses this Saturday and Monday from 10am to 4pm and Wednesday from 10am to 2pm.”
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