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Surge in local virus cases during October
05/11/2020
As lockdown begins, figures show the picture of infection rates here that led local leaders to request action
The latest COVID-19 infection rates for the Banbury FM area provide an insight as to why local councillors and health practitioners were last week pushing for an increased alert level locally. Despite that request being rejected by central government last week, today the whole country enters a new period of lockdown.
Figures obtained by Banbury FM show that the rate of new COVID-19 infections each week shot up locally during October, having been previously held at low levels during September. At the end of last week (30th October) there were 165 new cases during the previous seven days. The seven days prior to this (to 23rd October) saw 151 new positive tests, with only 86 new cases two weeks ago (up to 16th October).
Across the country the second lockdown has now started. Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops have once again been forced to close their doors and members of the public are ordered to stay at home for the next four weeks in a bid to reverse the spread of COVID-19.
The NHS in England has been placed on its highest state of alert amid warnings that hospitals will continue filling up with Covid-19 patients for at least another two weeks. The switch to level 4 means the NHS’s response to the resurgence of the pandemic is being handled nationally rather than regionally and that NHS England’s national incident coordination centre – comprising the organisation’s senior team – has become operational again, having been stood down in July.
Oxfordshire’s council leaders, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership have come together to say that everyone must play their part to help control the spread of the virus once again to save lives.
Councillor Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “Stopping the spread of coronavirus has to be everyone’s top priority at this point in time. It is essential that everyone follows these new restrictions from 5 November so that come December the rate of transmission has dropped.
“As local leaders we are acutely aware of the sacrifices our residents and businesses will be making in the coming weeks. I assure them that Cherwell District Council will continue to prioritise its essential services and support its communities through this challenging period.”
Banbury FM has analysed the official government data from the following places to produce the information categorised as the “Banbury FM Area”: Banbury (Calthorpe, Easington, Grimsbury, Hardwick, Neithrop, Ruscote), Bodicote, Adderbury & Bloxham, Brackley (North and South), Cropredy, Wroxton & Shennington, Deddington, Steeple Aston & Heyfords, Kings Sutton, Greatworth & Evenley, Middleton Cheney & Chipping Warden, Sibford, Hook Norton & Milcombe.
You can see the latest infection rates for your area on our COVID-19 dashboard.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam