Revealed: Most comprehensive Covid-19 data published by Northants public health team today

Northamptonshire’s public health team has today published the most in-depth level of Covid-19 data to help residents understand where the virus is occurring.

The new data shows that over the past 28 days Desborough has had the most positive cases with 32 residents contracting the virus, however the statistics shows the numbers of cases in Northants are steadily declining from a high in the week of May 11 when 348 residents tested positive.

The published data, which includes tests from hospitals plus those done at regional and mobile testing centres, shows that in the week up and including July 5 there were 63 positive tests in the county.

It was only recently that the government first revealed the data from mobile testing centres,(known as Pillar 2) which led to the recorded cases in Northants doubling.

Since the pandemic began Kettering and Northampton have had the most cases per 100,000 residents and are significantly above the national average rate. The data relates to the home address of the person who tested positive, so the fact the towns both house the county’s hospitals is not necessarily a contributing factor to the high case numbers.

The new data says that Northamptonshire is ‘significantly below’ the national rate for Covid cases with 422 people per 100,000 people testing positive.

A statement put out by the public health team today says there are “focus areas” where case numbers may be higher than others during a particular point in time.

They say reasons for peaks in case numbers can vary but contributing factors include outbreaks in localised settings, such as care homes or workplaces.

Rida Elkheir, consultant in public health at Northamptonshire County Council, said: “We have seen how local restrictions can be imposed in neighbouring Leicestershire when case numbers increase rapidly, so we must all continue to act responsibly to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.

“Where outbreaks occur within local settings, we follow a number of interventions, including testing, advice and guidance on infection and prevention control and the isolation of infected individuals to reduce the risk of further transmission.

“The key to controlling the virus lies with every one of us, as residents or employees within the county, to continue to follow government guidance on social distancing, thorough and regular hand washing and minimising the number of people that we have contact with.”

It is understood the county’s public health team, which is led by director of health Lucy Wightman, only received this more detailed data from Government on July 2.

The data shows that since testing began, the area in the Northants with the most cases has been the area of Kettering Town & West – where there have been 129 positive tests. The second highest area has been Cliftonville & Rushmere at 106, followed by Desborough which has had 81 residents test positive. The area of Burton Latimer, Broughton and Mawsley is next highest at 62 cases followed by the Wootton and Collingtree area at 55.

Altogether until July 5, there have been 3,156 people testing positive for coronavirus in Northants.

Desborough had a large outbreak at the Cheaney Court care home last month, which could account for a significant number of the positive tests in the town.

The public health team says that this new data allows them to build up a greater understanding of the local picture relating to Covid-19 cases.

It says over time, the data will inform advice and guidance to local residents, who may need to adapt or change behaviours in order to reduce rates and minimise the spread of the virus.

The country’s first local lockdown was introduced in Leicester last week after mobile testing revealed a big spike in cases.

The advice continues that anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms (high temperature, continuous cough or loss of / change in sense of smell or taste) should immediately selfisolate with their household and visit nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 to find out how they can get tested.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 will become involved with the NHS test and trace service to identify the people they’ve recently been in contact with so they can be alerted. People who have had close recent contact with someone with coronavirus must then self-isolate for 14 days, if they are advised to do so by the NHS test and trace service, to help contain the spread of infection.

Read the data in full here

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