Mark Eastwood MP Kirklees COVID-19 Update
Mark Eastwood MP has been taking part in regular meetings with Kirklees Council leaders and fellow MPs from across Kirklees including Jason McCartney MP (Colne Valley) and Tracy Brabin MP (Batley and Spen). All parties have been working well together.
Following on from this Mark Eastwood will be sharing information with constituents on a range of local issues relating to Covid19. The latest news is that after an increase in infections last week, the weekly local data released yesterday has shown Kirklees rates of COVID-19 infection have decreased over the last seven days, which is, of course, good news but does not mean this is over.
Please see some useful information below and more detail on how Kirklees are targeting areas with the highest rates.
Community Update
COVID-19 data
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council said:
“The local data shows that our rates of COVID-19 infection have dropped in Kirklees over the last seven days. This is of course good news but not a reason to become complacent - our fight against COVID-19 is not over.
We are very likely to see infection rates go up and down in communities and pockets in different parts of Kirklees in the coming weeks and months. We’re ready to deploy staff and testing units anywhere in Kirklees if we think it will help bring rates down.
We are still far from the levels of infection seen in Leicester, but we all have an equal role to play in continuing to lower our infection rates, save lives an prevent any local lockdown.
Social distancing, hand washing and protecting the most vulnerable in our community are more important now than ever, particularly with the recent easing of lockdown measures.”
Useful information
The Government is now releasing new data every week which shows the rates of positive coronavirus tests for each area.
What are the figures in Kirklees?
- During the pandemic, 494.4 people per 100,000 residents have tested positive for the virus.
- The data also tells us that 27.8 people per 100,000 residents tested positive in Kirklees in the past week. This has dropped from 34.4 people per 100,000 residents the previous week.
- The current national rate is 6.7. The current West Yorkshire average rate is 21.6.
- Please be advised that these figures are provisional and could be subject to change. Figures will be updated regularly here.
- A relatively small number of cases can make a large difference to rates and this needs to be considered when looking at weekly changes and comparisons with other areas.
Why are the numbers higher in Kirklees than elsewhere?
- Nobody yet knows exactly why COVID-19 is more prevalent in some places than others but Kirklees has announced wide-ranging action to tackle local spikes in COVID-19 infections.
- Kirklees rates have decreased over the last seven days but we still need to bring them down further.
Actions to reduce rates, save lives and avoid a local lockdown
- The action Kirklees is taking includes sending staff to work with people, families and business owners in areas with the highest rates, supporting them with how they can stay safe as lockdown eases.
- A major public information campaign will also give all residents in Kirklees the latest information on how they can keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
- An outreach operation in communities most affected by COVID-19 is already underway with local councillors leading hundreds of council staff in dispensing public health advice to residents and working with families and communities on how they can stay safe.
- A public health campaign will also see all residents receive the latest information and advice on stopping the spread of the virus in a letter that will start to drop through letterboxes later this week.
Which specific areas are being targeted for more support?
- Initially, Ravensthorpe, Saville Town and Batley West, focussing on people in the 20-40 years old age group.
- Council staff will talk to voluntary and community organisations about how they can work together to stay safe. They will also engage with people and families who might be at particular risk or who need support to isolate.
- Increased testing in affected areas will give local people and public health officials a better understanding of how the virus is affecting communities in North Kirklees.
- An additional mobile testing unit (MTU) is available in Batley at Wards Hill car park. The existing MTU in Dewsbury has moved to Cliffe Street car park. The units will be available for anyone who thinks they have symptoms to get a test.
What other areas will be targeted?
- Kirklees also plans to implement similar support in Birkby and Fartown.
- Kirklees are continuing to analyse the data to learn more about spikes or trends in areas or within specific social groups across Kirklees and will take targeted action to bring rates back down and save lives.
Are we heading for a local lockdown?
- No. However, whilst infection rates in Kirklees remain well below those seen in Leicester, councillors and officials are determined to keep numbers low and protect lives and vital health and care services.
Your role as a resident
- Kirklees are focusing our efforts in parts of North Kirklees for now but the advice is the same for everyone, whatever age you are and wherever you live. Keep social distancing, wash your hands regularly and isolate if you have symptoms or are contacted by the NHS test and trace service.
Outbreak at Liversedge bed company
- Kirklees Council, the Health and Safety Executive and Public Health England are working with High Grove Beds after eight members of its factory staff tested positive for coronavirus.
- High Grove Beds have been advised to cease production as a safety precaution and will reopen when safe to do so. All staff have been offered tests at a Mobile Testing Unit on-site.
- The company are also working closely with Kirklees Council and Public Health England so those who have tested positive can be followed up by the NHS Test and Trace programme and self-isolate.
- While the risk to residents from this outbreak is very low, everyone in Kirklees should continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms. You can find all the latest advice on staying safe during the pandemic on the Government website.
Libraries announce plans to welcome back local communities as lockdown restrictions ease
Kirklees Libraries will begin a phased recovery of services as coronavirus lockdown restrictions across the country are lifted.
From 20 July residents will be able to return borrowed items to specific libraries. They can also contact the library service on 01484 414868 to order a selection of books as part of a Ring and Read scheme. These books can be collected from specific libraries from 27 July and by mid-August, the service will be available from all Kirklees Libraries.
Health and safety has been at the heart of preparations as staff work hard to make sure visitors, staff and volunteers remain safe as further library services are re-introduced. Controlling the spread of the virus is critical and visitors will be reminded to stick to government social distancing guidelines.
Until the Council is able to safely re-open all services, Kirklees urge residents to continue to take advantage of the fantastic range of online resources for children and families.
Locations for return of borrowed items from week commencing 20 July are:
- Almondbury - Tuesday at 10am – 1pm & Thursday at 2pm - 5pm
- Batley – Tuesday & Thursday at 10am – 2pm and Friday 1pm – 5pm
- Dewsbury – Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am – 3pm
- Huddersfield – Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm
- Rawthorpe Dalton – Tuesday 10am – 12noon & Wednesday 1pm – 4pm
- Slaithwaite – Monday 10am – 2pm
Further details on library services recovery will be announced in the next 2 weeks.
Work Continuity
Covid-19: Re-opening of Community Facilities
Community Facilities have received permission to re-open from 4 July 2020 following implementation of Phase 3 of the Government’s plan to re-build after Covid-19. However, the Government have confirmed that managers of Community Facilities have the discretion over when they consider it safe to open for the activities permitted by legislation, and that they may decide to remain closed if they are not able to safely follow the advice and guidance to make spaces Covid-19 secure.
The Council recommends facilities are not re-opened until you have identified the necessary safety, compliance, management, and operational issues required and established a plan to address and mitigate them. You are not obliged to re-open immediately and it would be unwise to do so if you have not been through that process.
If a decision is made to re-open facilities, bookings should only be accepted where social distancing can be maintained, the number of people each person has contact with is reduced to a small group and/or contacts below 2m are minimised and transitory, but crowded events cannot yet be held.
For further guidance on considerations when opening a Community Facility such as risk assessments, safe access, track and trace and use of kitchen/toilets etc, please contact Emma Griff emma.griff@kirklees.gov.uk
Webinar for Community Buildings
In support of community facilities re-opening, the Council hosted a webinar on Tuesday 14 July to provide guidance on how to safely re-open the community buildings and advice on how to consider when this can take place. It also covered the lessons that have been learnt from community buildings that have stayed open during lockdown and how Kirklees transfer that learning into the re-opening of community buildings across the district.
The recording can be watched on YouTube.
The government guidance referred to during the session can be found on the Government website.
A further webinar is being organised in approximately three weeks’ time and will follow up on some of the detail of the questions raised.
AccessBus gets back on the road
West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s AccessBus, a fleet of 20 minibuses, which usually provide door-to-door bus services to support people with limited mobility, has continued to help the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AccessBus has used its vehicles and drivers to provide an essential service across West Yorkshire and has been delivering shopping and meals to people who are shielding or unable to leave their homes, taking patients to clinics and delivering school lunches.
AccessBus will be resuming some services this week, please visit Metro for more information.
