Merseyside on Coronavirus Watch List as people urged to follow measures to avoid lockdown

Southport and the whole of Merseyside has today been added to the Government’s Coronavirus Watch List after a recent rise in cases.

It has been confirmed today that Sefton, Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens have all now been placed on the covid-19 danger list because of spiralling infection rates across the region.

People in Southport are now being urged to do all they can to take all the measures they can to stop the spread of Covid-19 and to keep themselves and others safe. 

Council leaders in the region will now have to report back to the Government on measures being taken to avoid a local lockdown in our region.

Being on the ‘watch list’ means that the Government is now closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Merseyside regarding infection rates and could soon impose new restrictions on our region if cases continue to rise.

Merseyside areas will now be classed as areas of concern and this could then be escalated to areas of enhanced support and then intervention as we have seen in places like Leicester and more recently Bolton.

Liverpool and Wirral are the worst hit areas locally, both with Coronavirus cases above 50 per 100,000. 

Sefton is the least affected in Merseyside, although cases have nearly doubled in a week from 16.6 per 100,000 (46 cases) to 32.2 (89 cases).

Responding to today’s announcement that Merseyside has been identified by the Government as one of two new areas of concern owing to rising number of COVID-19 cases, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:  

“In the light of this news, it’s essential that every single one of Sefton’s residents and businesses continue the great efforts they have made already to prevent us going into lockdown.”

The location with the highest rate of infection in the UK is Bolton, with a rate of 131.1 cases (377 new cases) per thousand in the seven days up until September 6, up from 72 per 100,000 (207 cases) the week before. 

In Merseyside, the comparative figures are: 

Wirral 55.6 (180), up from 30.2 (98) the week before

Liverpool 50.2 (250), 17.3 (86) 

Knowsley 43.1 (65), 11.3 (17)

St Helens 42.1 (76), 6.6 (12)

Sefton 32.2 (89), 16.6 (46)

The rates for other nearby areas include: 

West Lancashire 33.2 (38), 7.0 (8)

Wigan 31.9 (105), 13.1 (43)

South Ribble 31.6 (35), 8.1 (9) 

Chorley 19.1 (23), 7.6 (9) 

Cllr Ian Maher said: “The willingness and efforts of local people and the vast majority of the Borough’s businesses to follow the guidelines and implement the measures required have been impressive and were reflected in low numbers of cases recently.

“However, this current rise is a cause for concern.

“Infections in Sefton are spread across the Borough through people’s familiar social networks, whether at home, at work or out and about and while we are seeing cases being reported in people of all ages, those in the working age group from 20-60 are prevalent.

“Those people may be only mildly affected by COVID-19 and some are asymptomatic, but our real concern is how these people can still spread the infection, including to their loved ones at home who may be vulnerable and far more seriously affected.

“It’s vital that local people continue with social distancing and follow the Government’s recently revised guidelines restricting indoor meetings to members of two different households and keeping numbers at outdoor gatherings to a maximum of six. Wearing masks and face coverings where required and frequent, thorough hand-washing are also crucial.

“Sefton’s businesses need to ensure they are protecting their customers and staff by having all the required measures in place, including Test and Trace arrangements for pubs, bars and restaurants, distancing and cleaning procedures and face coverings where required. 

“Also, we need those people who develop the coronavirus symptoms of a high temperature, or a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, to get a test immediately, for their own safety and the safety of others. They just need to visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or call 119 to make an appointment at their nearest available Test Centre.  Home testing kits are also available on request.”

“And finally, it is vitally important that if any Sefton residents are contacted by the Test and Trace programme that they comply with the requests of the contact tracers and stay home if they are asked to do so.  

“We really appreciate the huge efforts and sacrifices Sefton’s population and business have made to work with us to protect vulnerable people across our communities. Now we need them to continue those efforts and prevent tighter restrictions being re-introduced.”

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Over the past week we have seen a rapid increase in Coronavirus cases across the Liverpool City Region. We are not yet at the stage of having extra restrictions imposed on us – as other areas have – but, if we continue on our current trajectory, it will become a case of when, not if this happens.

“There is still time for us to stop that happening – but doing so depends on us and what we choose to do. I am working hard with our local councils and other partners to do everything in our power to keep the spread of the virus under control, but we cannot do that without your help. ”

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