Encouraging signs of decline in Covid among west Cheshire residents aged 60 and over

Data published on the Government's website has shown that, for the first time since December 5 – when the region came out of a four-week lockdown – the seven-day infection rate among those 60 and over has fallen below 100.

With the most recent available infection rate of 93.3, that means less than 0.1% of the 60+ population in Cheshire west tested positive for Covid-19 for the week of February 5-11.

More encouragingly, that figure has plummeted to less than half the infection rate from just seven days earlier, when the infection rate for January 29-February 4 was 202.3.

The vast majority of those aged 80 and above have now received their first vaccination against Covid-19 in the region, with those aged 65-69 now being invited to attend appointments at one of several vaccination centres available. Those aged 70 and over are urged to contact the NHS if they have not received a vaccination appointment but wish to obtain one.

The latest overall seven-day infection rate for west Cheshire is 147.5, with the infection rate for those aged 0-59 being 168.4.

Nearly 20,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed in west Cheshire since the start of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, February 16, a further 65 cases were recorded, bringing the total to 19,991.

It is hoped that, unlike the previous lockdown for the borough – which saw the infection rate fall from 325 to 100 before levelling out – the infection rate will continue to decline below 100 in the next two weeks as thousands more continue to receive their first vaccination dose.

The peak seven-day infection rate for Cheshire west was 625.8, recorded for the seven days up to January 4, when the nation went into its current lockdown.

The infection rate is currently declining by about a third each week in west Cheshire. For England, the infection rate's decline has begun to accelerate slightly over the past few days.