Coronavirus infection rates in Leeds are continuing to trend downwards, insists Leeds City Council.
Earlier this week, LeedsLive reported that COVID-19 cases in Leeds were ten times higher than previously reported.
It came after 'Pillar 2' data was finally released, detailing the positive tests from the city's drive-through test centres and swabs sent by post. Before this, only hospital cases were being published daily by Public Health England.
It showed that, in Leeds, there were 19.8 cases per 100,000 in the week of June 21 - equivalent of 157 people in the area testing positive in that week.
Previous data showed just 16 cases had been found in that same time period in Leeds.
However, Leeds City Council have moved to reassure residents that infection rates are in fact going down, and that the infection rate is now at 8.6 per 100,000.
In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "Despite media reports, Leeds is not an area of concern for COVID-19 nationally. New infection rates have continued to trend downwards over the last week to 8.6 per 100,000 today.
"Let’s do everything we can to keep infection rates low."
Places like Barnsley and neighbouring Bradford have reported recent increases in infection rates, with suggestions they made need to follow Leicester into a local lockdown.
In Leicester, which has remained in a "local lockdown", Pillar 2 data suggests 140.2 per 100,000 people are infected, an equivalent of 497 new cases.
Earlier this week, the council unveiled a local lockdown plan in case the city saw a new spike in infections.
This will include working with different workplaces and "high risk settings" across Leeds to help them adapt, to put targeted control measures in place with the help of Public Health England, and to train the wider council workforce to learn how to trace contacts.
LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news! Click here to join and follow the instructions on your phone. Your number won't be shared with anyone else in the group.
