Fenland Covid-19 peak came in April - but we must still remain alert and stick to guidelines
Claims Fenland has yet to reach its Covid-19 death peak have been rejected by Cambridgeshire's top health boss.
The district was listed in a national newspaper as one of 18 council areas that it claimed had still not seen their coronavirus death peak.
Other areas listed, like Fenland were largely rural communities, and included North Somerset, Hinckley and Bosworth in Leicestershire and South Norfolk.
The article published in the Daily Mail on Friday (29) came just as the Government announced a further relaxing of lockdown rules, which now mean families and friends can gather in groups of up to six in each others gardens or in parks.
It prompted concerned Fenland residents to urge caution over becoming too complacent amid fears the worst was yet to come for our area.
However, Office for National Statistics data shows there have been a total of 54 Covid-19 related deaths in Fenland, with a peak of 12 deaths occurring between April 11 and 17. In the last week reported by ONS (May 9 to 15), Fenland saw six Covid-19 related deaths.
Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire County Council, Dr Liz Robin, said: “The data shows that the peak of Covid-19 related deaths in Fenland occurred in mid-April, which is similar to many other areas.
"That being said, we must not be complacent, and it is vital that we continue to follow national advice in order to reduce the spread of infection in Fenland and in Cambridgeshire.
“We must all follow public health guidance by maintaining social distancing of two metres, ensure good hygiene by regularly washing our hands, limiting contact with other people, working from home whenever possible, and reducing non-essential travel. As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, I would reiterate the importance of following the guidance issued and to stay alert.
“If you have coronavirus symptoms (which include a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) then you should stay at home and self-isolate for seven days. If someone you live with has symptoms you should stay and home self-isolate for 14 days.”
Cambridgeshire County Council leader Councillor Steve Count, from March, who previously warned people to obey lockdown rules after a spike in coronarvirus cases in March in early May, which he blamed on rule breakers, said: "The last figures I looked at showed Fenland's Covid-19 cases were going down, which suggests we are not working towards another peak.
"We have been relatively lucky in our area, but from my point of view we do still need to keep repeating the safety guidelines and to remind people that the virus has not gone away and we still need to stay alert - if we don't then we will see figures rise again."
