News Release from Wiltshire Council – 2nd July 2020
Wiltshire Council can confirm that as of 26 June, in the Wiltshire Council area there were 584 positive coronavirus tests confirmed through the Pillar 2 testing programme.
From the beginning of the pandemic to 26 June 2020 Wiltshire has had a total of 550 confirmed cases of Covid-19 through the Pillar 1 testing programme (NHS and Public Health England) and a total of 584 cases confirmed through the Pillar 2 testing programme (commercial providers) – giving a total of 1,134 cases.
In the last two weeks, the figure for Pillar 2 testing saw an increase from seven positive cases to nine, an extremely low number.
Kate Blackburn, Interim Director of Public Health at Wiltshire Council, said: “With Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 data Wiltshire currently has an infection rate of 226.8 per 100,000 people. To put this into context, the rate across England is 425.8.
“I can reassure residents and businesses in Wiltshire that COVID-19 cases currently remain extremely low and a local lockdown is certainly not necessary. On a daily basis we review a number of different reports and data with our Public Health England colleagues. Should there be any issues there are alert systems in place.
“The most important thing we can do as a community at the moment is to stick to the national guidance around social distancing and maintain good hand hygiene.
“I would like to thank you for your continued support at this time.”
Professor Debra Lapthorne, Regional Director Public Health England South West & Regional Director of Public Health NHS England South West, said: “The number of new cases of coronavirus is under close, active surveillance across the country and small fluctuations day by day are to be expected. The increase in cases in some areas are mainly sporadic and are being uncovered as we scale up testing and contact tracing activity across the region. Importantly, the overall levels of coronavirus in the South West remain some of the lowest in the country. We’re working closely with all local authorities to prepare for and manage any potential local clusters and outbreaks and our epidemiological analysis will play an important role identifying if there is a significant sustained increase in the community.
“As we carefully emerge from lockdown, it is important now more than ever, that everyone in the South West continues to follow government advice on social distancing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings, and practicing good hand hygiene, in order to keep the number of new cases in the region on its way down. If you have a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change to your sense of smell or taste, stay at home and arrange a test immediately.”
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Notes to editors:
Background information:
• Arrange testing through the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
• Apply for a coronavirus test on GOV.UK if you are an essential worker, including NHS or social care staff, are asking for tests for the residents and staff of your care home or have a verification code from your employer: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• Contact tracing complex cases through NHS Test and Trace blog: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/06/25/contact-tracing-complex-cases-through-nhs-test-and-trace/
Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the UK data dashboard: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
