The decline in Covid-19 infections in Knowsley appears to have slowed last week.
Although the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in the borough continued to decrease, reaching 655 in the week up to February 2, there are signs that this trend could be slowing down.
In the week up February 2, the number of new cases fell by 36.6%, slightly lower than the rates seen last weekend but still up on the previous week.
The number of positive cases reported each day also began to creep up again from last Saturday.
Although it is too early to say whether this is a definite trend or not, there have already been concerns that the less restrictive nature of the current lockdown means it may not be as effective as last year’s spring lockdown in reducing cases.
Knowsley’s infection rate, for instance, stands at 434.2 new cases per 100,000 people in the week up to February 2. This is still the highest rate in the city region and well above the rates seen at the beginning of December.
As well as declining infection rates, last week also saw the number of deaths from Covid-19 in the borough start to fall.
The latest figures show 27 people died of Covid-19 in the week up to February 2, down slightly from the 31 people in the week up to January 29.
Find the number of people vaccinated near you by entering your postcode below
However, deaths in the borough remain relatively high and February has already seen the same number of Covid-19 fatalities in Knowsley as the whole of December.
This followed a disastrous January that saw 89 Knowsley residents die of the virus, the same number that died during April 2020.
To help combat the virus and further push down infections, Knowsley Council has announced two new mass testing centres set to open next week.
The For Housing office in Stockbridge Village will host testing services from February 13 while St Edmund Arrowsmith school in Whiston will start testing the public from February 14.
Cllr Sean Donnelly, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “It’s really important that residents who are unable to work from home can access testing.
“With seven sites now open across the borough, with testing available seven days a week, residents are encouraged to get tested at least twice weekly to give reassurance that they are not unknowingly passing on the virus to others.
“With our rates still exceptionally high, we need to do all that we can to bring our rates down. Identifying people with the virus but without symptoms is essential.”
