New coronavirus cases fall in Kettering and Corby, but rates remain high

The number of new coronavirus cases in Kettering and Corby in the week up to Sunday, September 6, has fallen compared to the previous week.

Kettering and Corby are the only two boroughs out of the county's seven districts to record a fall in new cases and the county as a whole saw an increase, with 187 new cases confirmed compared to 145 the week before.

In Corby, new cases fell from 39 in the week ending August 30 to 33 the following week. In Kettering, numbers fell from 34 to 27.

However, as a whole the rates of Covid-19 in the two boroughs and across the county remain high and above the national average.

And data published by the Government for days after the most recent weekly document published by the county's public health team has shown individual days with high numbers of positive cases - including 12 in Corby on September 7 and nine in Kettering on the same day.

Corby Council leader, Labour's Tom Beattie, said: "There is still concern with rising cases in Corby."

He hinted at possible government intervention in Corby and said: "We want to see what comes from the government later today to see what Corby's position is likely to be."

Cllr Beattie said it was clear messages about testing and complying with coronavirus guidance were getting through and people needed to continue following this advice.

Kettering Council leader, Conservative Russell Roberts, agreed and said: "If we can give the public a simple and clear message they will understand it and get behind it.

"We are not out of the woods yet, we are going in the right direction but we cannot get complacent."

While Kettering and Corby boroughs recorded a fall in overall new cases, certain wards in each area recorded some of the highest new cases in the last 28 days.

In today's press conference, a presentation given by Northamptonshire's director of public health, Lucy Wightman, revealed the ward of Burton Latimer, Broughton and Mawsley and the ward of Barton Seagrave were joint fourth in Northamptonshire for areas with the most new Covid-19 cases in the last 28 days, with 27 cases each.

They were followed closely by Corby Village and Weldon, which had 26 new cases in the last 28 days.

Out of these three areas, only Barton Seagrave featured in Northamptonshire's list of areas with the highest rate of new cases per 100,000 people. The area has a rate of 330.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Today's press conference also showed that the majority of cases are being confirmed in the younger age ranges of 20 to 59, with most of those cases at the younger end of the range.

Other information given in today's press conference included active outbreaks where two or more cases are linked by place and time to a single setting.

In north Northamptonshire, Wellingborough and Corby both had three active outbreaks as of Sunday, September 6.

In Wellingborough, two outbreaks were linked to care homes and one to a workplace. In Corby, there is one outbreak in a care home and two in workplaces.

Kettering and East Northants both had two outbreaks. In East Northants, these were both in care homes. Kettering has one outbreak in a care home and another categorised as 'other'.

Public health officials are unable to identify places with outbreaks unless there is a significant risk to wider public health.

To try and stop the spread of Covid-19 across the county, residents are being asked to follow the following advice:

- Keep two metres from others at all times

- Limit contact with those outside their household or bubble

- If you must meet with those outside your household or bubble, meet outside

- Do not share items with others outside of your household or bubble

- If social distancing at two metres is not possible, always use a face covering

- Avoid using public transport or car sharing. Wear face coverings if you must travel with others

- Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for 20 seconds each time

- Work from home if you can