'NO TIME FOR COMPLACENCY' DESPITE BEST NEWS POSSIBLE ON FATALITY FRONT

PUBLIC HEALTH BOSS URGES REDOUBLING OF EFFORTS TO ENSURE CASE NUMBERS REMAIN LOW

LATEST official figures have brought a welcome respite in the deadly march of the Covid-19 pandemic on Atherstone and beyond.

No fatalities have been recorded across the whole of Warwickshire in the first two weeks of August after a "dreadful" previous two months.

And county councillor Keith Konkador believes "remarkable progress" is being made in tracing and controlling cases in the county at large.

But the Green councillor is joined by county public health director Shade Agboola in urging the public "not to be complacent" in the aftermath of encouraging news.

Cllr Konkador said: "Please keep being careful so that we keep case numbers low and try never to have another Covid death in Warwickshire.

"It is also vital that any workplace outbreaks are reported early, as they seem to be the source of many new clusters around the world."

Ms Agboola added: "We've all made enormous sacrifices to keep the virus at bay but the pandemic is not over and as a community we all continue to have a role to play to re-double our efforts and protect each other.

"So please, let's continue to do the right thing.

"We need to be cautious and do things slightly differently to how we used to do them while the virus is still present and continues to pose a risk. This includes our businesses, who must enforce government advice.

"Continue to social distance, wear a face covering, especially when in public places such as on public transport or at the shops unless you are exempt, and wash your hands regularly, especially when you return home from outside.

"If you have symptoms, self-isolate immediately and book a test.

The 'no fatalities' were released in figures from the Office for National Statistics for the second week of this month with deaths registered up to August 22. In the same period neighbouring Leicester reported three deaths (two in care homes and one in hospital) while Coventry recorded two fatalities, one in hospital and the other a care facility. "It comes after a dreadful June and July, but we now have two weeks with zero Covid deaths" added Cllr Kondakor. He said: "We have made remarkable progress in tracing and controlling cases in Warwickshire." There were 15 deaths reported up to the end of June in Atherstone against a 'current' borough total of 87 but that figure may change after the Government slashed fatality statistics by more than 5,000 plus it scrapped Public Health England and create a new National Institute for Health Protection, which will take in some of PHE's responsibilities along with the NHS Test and Trace programme and the work of the Joint Biosecurity Centre. Cllr Kondakor added: "Something approaching 600 people in Warwickshire died after being tested positive for Covid-19. "Clearly there is some uncertainty as to how many deaths were explicitly down to the virus with some people dying due to Covid at the start who were never tested and some of the later deaths happening a long time after positive test result. "But it should also be noted that the death toll would have been many times higher if no action was taken and lower of action was taken sooner/better." The authorities in North Warwickshire borough have been taking no chances of any likelihood of a Covid-19 local lockdown. Mid month Atherstone saw the arrival of a mobile testing unit to facilitate a "quick response" to local outbreaks. Government statistics for positive cases of coronavirus in Atherstone and North Warwickshire since March are today registering 358 – up eight in a fortnight – at a rate per 100,000 population of 548.5. Meanwhile, the ZOE health science company's Covid-19 Symptom Study – with data analysed by King's College, London – is continuing to report a downward trend in infections in Atherstone and district at large. National statistics for the last 24 hours show the UK has seen 1,048 new positive cases and 16 deaths. The UK total recorded cases – up 7,748 in the last seven days – stands at 328,846 with fatalities on 41,465. Globally the pandemic continues to surge. In nine weeks, recorded cases have gone from 7.2 million to nearly 25 million people who have tested positive for the virus. The death tally currently stands at 829,693 – more than double what it was nine weeks ago (408,737). The US passed another grim milestone today – six million confirmed cases – with 183,653 deaths. Brazil (3.7m) and India (3.3m) have both passed the three million mark for cases. Spain is seeing an uptick in new cases with more than 7,000 reported in one day. Cumulative cases, including the results from antibody tests on patients who may have already recovered, has reached 426,818, the highest level in western Europe. Seven more deaths have also been recorded, bringing the overall toll to 28,971.