Trafford’s public health bosses have issued guidance on how best to live with covid. The team and Trafford council held their final covid-19 public engagement board meeting on Wednesday (March 16) at a time when the borough’s infection rates are increasing.
It is the highest in Greater Manchester and currently stands at 530 cases per 100,000 population. Some 1,200 Trafford residents tested positive for covid in the week ending March 11.
Around 20 per cent of the people testing themselves in Trafford are testing positive – a huge increase on previous weeks and months. All age groups across Trafford have seen an increase in their infection rates, but the highest rates are still among the borough’s 30 to 44-year-olds.
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Acting director for public health Helen Gollins gave an update to the council during the meeting and said: “Unfortunately we are seeing an increase in our rates locally at the moment. We have seen a significant increase over the last seven days in terms of our rates.”
The west and the south of the borough are seeing the highest infection rates, with Davyhulme East ward seeing the highest rates and Bowdon, Urmston, Timperley and Altrincham coming next.
The number of people from Trafford who go into hospital with covid and require ventilation, as well as the number of Trafford residents who sadly die with covid, are remaining stable.
Ms Gollins explained she spoke with the UK Health Security Agency, previously known as Public Health England and the increase Trafford is seeing is understood to be the impact of a change in central government policy.
She said: “This is us starting to live with covid. We did anticipate a drift up when the policy changed, but we need to be mindful of monitoring that drift up at the moment and understanding what that means. It’s all down to change in policy and change in behaviours.”
The borough is seeing an increase in outbreaks of covid cases across its schools and care homes – the council’s outbreak response teams will continue to work to tackle these and future outbreaks over the next 12 months.
From March 30, free testing in the UK is set to end, which health bosses recognise will change the picture again.
Ms Gollins said: “It’s a bit of a challenging picture for is at the moment. In terms of living with covid, I think we have to be mindful that it hasn’t gone away. As residents, as councillors and professionals working across Trafford we need to reinforce the message that covid hasn’t gone away. If you do have symptoms, don’t go into work and take a PCR test.
“Even when testing isn’t available and you still feel poorly, do not go into work for at least five days until you feel well again. Do a lateral flow test if you are going to see anyone vulnerable or going into crowded places. Hand washing is still really important – ventilation is too. Get your windows and doors open, where you can get some air flowing through.
“But absolutely our key message is vaccination. So if you haven’t had your booster, or primary or second, it’s never too late. Go on to the national system and book your vaccination – that’s really, really important.”
Ms Gollins added her personal thanks to the NHS and other care providers, both in hospital and care home settings for their hard work throughout the pandemic.
She said: “They’ve been absolutely phenomenal throughout. We look back on the last two years and it’s really hard to believe that we’ve lived through a pandemic of this kind. Everything is in place if we should need to escalate again. Trafford’s teams are brave, if we need to take a decision, we will, following national guidance.”
She also thanked residents, businesses and councillors for their support and engagement throughout.
The public health team will continue to monitor the situation and update the council on any changes. The department’s response team will be on standby for at least 12 months and can be stood up at short notice.
READ MORE about Trafford issues on our MyTrafford page.
