Cases of Covid-19 have stopped falling in Knowsley as the borough prepares for further reopening on Monday.
Last week, Covid infections actually rose slightly in Knowsley following weeks of decline.
The borough recorded 70 new cases of Covid-19 in the seven up to March 23, and case numbers had hovered between 65 and 70 for much of the previous week.
However, the slight increase in infections probably does not represent a significant increase in the actual spread of the virus.
Testing has significantly increased since children returned to the classroom on March 8 while the proportion of tests coming back positive has continued to fall slowly.
This suggests that the rise in testing is at least partly responsible for the slight rise in infection rates, but with the fall in positivity rates also slowing it seems unlikely that case numbers will fall significantly in the coming weeks.
This is especially likely as the Rule of Six returns from Monday (March 29) while restrictions are expected to be relaxed further from mid-April.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the national lockdown, Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan said the borough was now looking to the future and focusing on recovering from the pandemic.
He said: “Covid-19 has brought challenges which we could never have predicted and the one thing we know for certain is that there will be challenges ahead.
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“This week’s day of reflection though has given us an opportunity to see how far we have come in the last year and importantly how we can move forward.
“I think now is the time to talk more positively and with more certainty about the future.
“Yes, we know that these plans could be paused if case levels rise, but I want our residents and our businesses to know that this council is here, will continue to support you, and is committed to a brighter future for all. And together we can work to make that happen.”
There was also further good news for Knowsley last week as the borough recorded no deaths in the seven days up to March 23.
In fact, Knowsley has not recorded a Covid death since March 14 and has seen only four Covid deaths in the whole of March so far, compared to 73 in February.
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