Covid rates back to levels last seen in January

21/10/2021

Infection rates in Middleton Cheney and Chipping Warden are at the highest level since the pandemic started

Covid infection rates in the Banbury FM area have leapt back up to levels last seen early in January, when the country went into a period of lockdown.

In the week ending last Friday 592 new infections were recorded during the seven-day period up to October 15.   The last time new infections stood at a higher level was on January 8 when 885 new cases were recorded.

Middleton Cheney and Chipping Warden are noted as having 89 new cases of the virus, which is at the highest level since the pandemic started.

Across Oxfordshire Covid cases have risen by 44 per cent in a fortnight.   The increase reflects regional and national trends.

The highest case levels remain in young people aged 11 to 17, with significant increases also being seen in people in their 40s.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Over the past fortnight there has been a sustained rise and we are now once again in a position where we are asking people not to take their eye off the ball.

“Half-term is coming up and we would ask families to make sure they continue to get tested, especially before the return to the classroom in early November. However, more widely we are asking everyone in Oxfordshire to continue to take lateral flow tests on an ongoing basis throughout the winter months and to book a PCR test if they are symptomatic.”

Case rates in the Cherwell district currently stand at 463.6 per 100,000 of the population.

The advice remains that people should continue to stay at home if they are feeling unwell and get a PCR test as soon as possible.

Mr Azhar added: “We are now seeing 12-15 year-olds invited for their jab and people in priority groups being invited for their booster. Our plea is that everybody should take advantage of those opportunities to boost their immunity as soon as possible. Doing so helps individuals, cuts down the risk of COVID spreading in family settings and helps the community as a whole.

“We would also like to repeat those simple and familiar messages about taking real care about socialising indoors, ventilating indoor spaces, handwashing and wearing face coverings. Every little act of caution helps contain the spread of the virus and allows the vaccine the time and space to do its good work.”

You can see the infection rates for your part of the area on our Covid Dashboard.


Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam

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