Halton Borough Council has today published data that it hopes will provide residents with a concise and accurate picture of the current Covid-19 position across the borough.
With a lot of data in the public domain, some of it inaccurate, and some which has been misinterpreted, the Council has acknowledged that it can be confusing and difficult for residents to understand what the true position is.
To address this and provide an official source of information for residents to refer to, the Council will be issuing a weekly summary of the data and intelligence it receives from Public Health England.
Talking about the data, Halton’s Director of Public Health, Eileen O’Meara says:
“There is an awful lot of information being reported on, sometimes giving conflicting messages about the current situation in Halton. We understand how confusing this must be to those residents who just want to understand what the current risks are.
“The data we receive from Public Health England is based on confirmed positive tests, so it really is the most accurate source of information we have. We are looking at these figures in great detail every day to see if there are trends or particular areas of concern. It is true that we have seen a small increase in the number of positive cases, but this is to be expected as we all get back to doing more of the things we used to do before lockdown restrictions.
“At present, the number of cases in Halton remains considerably lower than other places in North West that have been subject to local lockdowns.
“This does not mean we can become complacent, indeed it is more important than ever, as lockdown measures are eased further this weekend that we all continue to wash our hands regularly, keep 2m apart where possible and wear a face covering where it is required. These remain the very best methods of controlling the spread of the virus and protecting ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of the community.”
In the seven days up to 11 August 2020 data shows that there were 7 positive cases of Covid-19 in Halton, with no deaths reported.
The Council will be issuing a summary of the data each week in the COVID advice section of its website and via its social media channels Twitter:@HaltonBC and Facebook: Halton Borough Council.
