The Government has just announced that here in Leicestershire we move into tier 4, and that in Rutland we move to Tier 3. These come into force from 00.01 tomorrow.
The new strain of the virus is behind a significant increase in cases across the country:
- In Rutland our cases have risen to: 182.8 / 100,000
- In Melton our cases have risen to: 226.5 / 100,000
- In Harborough our cases have risen to: 226 / 100,000
Last week the update I received from our local NHS had our rates at:
- In Rutland our cases were: 105.2 / 100,000
- In Melton our cases were: 183.6 / 100,000
- In Harborough our cases were: 194 / 100,000
The national rate is 353.7. Whilst we are below the national rate, our rates are much higher than we want them to be, and have increased at a worrying rate over just the last week. The pressures on our local hospitals in Leicester and at Peterborough are enormous: patient numbers continue to increase, the pressures on ICU are significant, and increasing staff sickness is causing challenges. In addition we are firmly now in Winter, when the NHS is always under pressure.
This tougher tiering is to keep us safe, and in recognition of the virulence of the new mutation.
Locally we continue to benefit from vaccination centres in Oakham, Melton and Market Harborough, and this vaccination programme will continue apace and be bolstered by the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine which will be rolled out nationally from 4th January. The vaccination gives us a plan and a way out, but we are not there yet.
I encourage everyone to please get tested if they need to, we need to know where the virus is, and stop it spreading.
