How health chiefs are trying to tackle the ongoing Covid problem in Kibworth

Public health chiefs are to write to people in Kibworth urging them to step up the battle to beat Covid after a huge increase in the local infection rate.

Mike Sandys, the Director of Public Health for Leicestershire, is writing to residents at the start of next week as the local rate of virus infections surged to 569.2 cases per 100,000.

That’s five times the latest national figure for England.

Mike is taking the drastic action after already targeting the parents and carers of about 850 pupils at Kibworth Mead Academy amid a serious coronavirus outbreak.

He sent them a letter this week after scores of pupils have been warned to stay away from the Kibworth Beauchamp school and learn at home.

This evening Mike told the Harborough Mail: “We wrote to parents at Kibworth Mead Academy this week following a number of cases associated with the school community.

“Processes in place at the school are good.

“And students are being reminded to take tests twice a week and follow national guidance when they’re meeting up outside of school.”

But he stressed: “While the majority of cases in Kibworth are associated with students and staff at the school, this does not mean that the spread is happening within the school itself and during school hours.

“Everyone in the community has a part to play in making sure that this concerning outbreak doesn’t spread further.

“I will be writing to the wider community in Kibworth next week, urging them to follow guidance, get tested regularly and isolate if required – and to get a vaccination if they haven’t already done so.”

Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough council, told the Mail tonight: “I fully support the action that Mike Sandys is taking here.

“We have a very high level of vaccination in Harborough and there are very few people over 60 who are now being infected.

“But the data shows that it’s teenagers, the 15 and 16-year-olds, who are being hit,” said Cllr King, who lives in Kibworth Beauchamp.

“A lot of this in Kibworth can be traced back to the so-called party in the park in Warwick Park here a few weeks ago.

“There were a lot of kids there that night, unfortunately, and it’s spread from there.

“The latest infection rate among 15-19-year-olds right across Harborough district is 1,255.6 cases per 100,000.

“That’s a phenomenal figure.

“But it has dropped to 137 across the board in Harborough.

“Ideally we’d be vaccinating all under-18s as well as adults – if we had an appropriate and safe vaccine to give them,” said Cllr King.

“Meanwhile, people have to remember to take their two lateral flow tests every week.

“And if you do test positive then isolate properly and fully so that you don’t infect anyone else.

“None of us can be complacent about this,” warned the Conservative council boss.

“We all want to celebrate our Freedom Day next month and get back to normal as soon as possible.

“So follow all the Covid guidance and behave responsibly.”

In their joint letter to the parents of students at Kibworth Mead Academy this week, Mike Sandys and Jane Moore, the county council’s Director of Children and Family Services, wrote: “We are writing to notify you that there have been a high number of positive Covid-19 cases associated with the community of Kibworth Mead Academy.

“If your child has been identified as a positive case through LFT or PCR testing, they must self-isolate at home for 10 days, along with the rest of the household.

“If your child has been identified as a close contact of a positive case, they must self-isolate at home for 10 days.

“If anyone in your household, including your child develops symptoms or takes a positive Covid-19 test whilst in isolation, they are required to isolate for a further 10 days from the date of symptoms or test.

“Any positive results should be reported to the NHS using the instructions on the testing kit and to Kibworth Mead, this allows NHS Test and Trace to take the action necessary to protect your school community,” they added.

“Parents are asked to make sure they are being cautious and sensible when organising any ‘gatherings’ such as birthday parties or sleepovers, and are sticking to the latest guidance, including the rule of six indoors.

“If anyone within your household has symptoms, you must follow the national guidance and get tested.

“You can book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirusEveryone within the household must remain at home until the test result has been received.

“If the result is positive you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days after the symptoms began.

“You are also encouraged to test regularly with rapid lateral flow tests.

“Lateral flow tests are for people aged 11 and over who do not have symptoms Covid-19 and have not been asked to self-isolate.

“You can find out more and order test kits from https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests“If you’re getting together with friends and family, take care and be sensible to avoid spreading the virus and crucially, take the opportunity to get vaccinated.

“Vaccinations are being offered to people who are eligible for the vaccine in line with national guidelines,” said the two council chiefs.

“It is important that you receive not just one, but both doses when offered.

“To find out more and to book your vaccine visit https://www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine