Workplace outbreaks of Covid in Northamptonshire have increased this week following Christmas dip, health boss confirms

Northamptonshire's health chief has confirmed that workplace outbreaks of Covid-19 have increased this week, following the Christmas break.

Speaking at the weekly Covid-19 Oversight Board meeting, Director of Public Health Northamptonshire, Lucy Wightman said the latest data available for case numbers in the county is ‘six times higher than the weekly total seen mid-September’, showing ‘a significantly deteriorating situation locally.’

In the data, which refers to the week ending January 1, 2021, there were a total of 24 outbreaks in the county, accounting for 212 cases. Of these outbreaks, four were in workplaces, accounting for 57 cases.

This data covers the Christmas break period when many people were not attending work, however this week, workplace outbreaks have once again increased.

Ms Wightman said: “In this last week as people have returned to work we have seen the number of workplace outbreaks increase.

“The interesting thing about the workplace outbreaks and indeed more generally outbreaks, is that although we’ve had a smaller number of outbreaks in general, they have included when they do happen many, many more cases and they are much more complex from the point of view of contact tracing.

“A lot of transmission is happening outside of these settings but obviously because we do routine testing and there is much greater surveillance of these high risk settings, that’s how we are picking up the outbreaks.

“So please people need to be very, very vigilant if they are having to car share to get to and from work, to do so wearing face masks, always washing their hands afterwards, keeping the car well ventilated.

“Similar on buses, if you’re having to catch a bus you need to be wearing your mask over your nose and your mouth, throughout your journey and then washing your hands as soon as you’re able to at the other end.”

The health chief was also keen to reiterate the 'hands, face, space' message, which she says is as important as ever, especially as infection rates, generally, are increasing at an 'alarming rate'.

Data, again referring to the week ending January 1, 2021, shows Northamptonshire had an infection rate of 406 per 100,000 of the population - higher than the East Midlands average - which Ms Wightman believes is down to the new strain of the virus.

She added: “The seven-day peak has reached a new high and is markedly higher than any other case rate that we have ever had previously and very much indicative that the new mutant strain is in Northamptonshire.

“We haven’t had specific typing done locally, but genome sequencing does suggest that the virus is prevalent across all parts of the country, but the steep and very rapid increase in cases is in keeping with those areas that have had the typing.

“Therefore we are operating on the assumption that the variant strain is here in Northamptonshire.”

The number of vaccines administered across the county was also addressed at the Covid-19 Oversight Board meeting. More on that here.

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