Cases of Covid-19 have continued falling in Knowsley but more slowly than in previous weeks.
In the week up to February 9, Knowsley’s infection rate fell 30% to reach 307 new cases per 100,000 people.
While this is welcome progress for a borough that once had the highest infection rate in the country, the previous week saw a 36% fall in cases suggesting the effectiveness of the current lockdown is decreasing.
The ongoing threat from the virus was underlined by two significant outbreaks involving a factory and a care home during the week.
At the Securafence factory in Kirkby, around 10 people tested positive for Covid-19 demonstrating the continued risk to people who still have to go into work.
The higher number of people travelling to work during the current lockdown compared to the first lockdown last year has been a source of concern nationally and raised questions about how far the current restrictions will be able to decrease infections.
Another outbreak in Kirkby saw a large number of residents at Appleby Court Care Home test positive along with a number of staff members.
The exact numbers are not known, but it is believed that the outbreak involves a significant number of residents, many of whom are likely to have recently received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Knowsley Council and Public Health England are providing advice in both cases.
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In more positive news for the borough, the number of deaths from Covid-19 has continued to fall over the last week.
In the week up to February 9, Knowsley recorded 22 deaths from Covid-19, down from 28 in the previous week.
As cases decline and pressure on local hospitals eases, this number is likely to continue falling.
However, February has already proved a deadly month with 31 deaths from Covid-19 in the first two weeks, almost as many as in the whole of May 2020 and more than double the total for December.
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