'Be extra vigilant but don't panic' is the message after Covid-19 cases double in Harborough

Health chiefs are calling on younger people to be extra vigilant this weekend as Covid-19 cases doubled in Harborough over the last few days.

The powerful appeal to step up the fight to beat the coronavirus is being made by Mike Sandys, the Director of Public Health for Leicestershire.

He hammered home the importance of observing measures such as social distancing as Harborough shot to the top of the current Covid-19 table for the county’s seven districts.

“The virus infection rate has gone up from 8.5 to 18.1 per 100,000 people across Harborough over the last full week.

“That means we have had an extra eight cases or so over that time scale.

“So on the one hand the rate has more than doubled in Harborough.

“But we are getting a lot more data coming through which is positive,” Mike told the Harborough Mail.

“So Harborough has gone top of the coronavirus rate league table for districts in Leicestershire over that period.

“But the good news is that looking at the latest data we are not seeing an exponential rise in numbers here in the last four days.

“So I am hopeful that with a bit of proactive messaging now through media outlets such as the Harborough Mail we will be OK.”

He is aiming his message to err on the side of caution at younger people especially.

“We are looking at the 18-34-year-old group in particular.

“And more so males than females.

“Younger people are maybe going down to the pub, playing sport, heading out shopping and seeing their friends in their houses,” said Mike.

“They might think it’s not a risk but in fact they are probably at the most risk.

“Older people are still doing well – wearing their masks or face coverings, washing their hands, keeping their distance and behaving sensibly.

“So we are urging younger people to do the same.

“We are talking about more single cases appearing here – certainly no clusters.

“There’s no one big reason why we have had a sudden increase in cases in Harborough.

“It’s just down to particular circumstances.

“It could be returning holidaymakers, the hospitality industry – there’s no one thing.

“Car sharing is another factor as more people go back to work together.

“I know the Covid-19 rate is high in neighbouring Corby at the moment.

“But I honestly do not know if there is any link between that and more cases appearing in Harborough.

“So please stay vigilant, follow the Government’s Covid-19 measures and together we will continue to go the right way.”

Cllr Phil Knowles, who leads the Liberal Democrats on Harborough District Council, said the authority should put out official new calls for vigilance.

''Covid19 is a killer.

“The NHS has been at the very front of the battle to save lives and the community has a vitally important role in the fight to beat the virus.

“Hand hygiene has been highlighted as vital, face covers help to protect not just the wearer but the wider community and social distancing is vitally important,” said Phil.

“The figures at this moment indicate an upward trend in Harborough.

“We need to act collectively to ensure that the coronavirus rate does not reach a point where tighter restrictions are introduced, restrictions that will set us back months.

“We need to act positively - and we all need to act together now.”