Dear all,
Welcome to the Coronawatch Bulletin(AUGUST 21). This bulletin provides an update on the current Covid-19 situation in Suffolk along with updates on the work being carried out as part of Suffolk’s Local Outbreak Control Plan.
With best wishes,
Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council Chair of the Suffolk Local Outbreak Engagement Board
Nicola Beach Chief Executive, Suffolk County Council
Stuart Keeble, Director for Public Health in Suffolk Chair of the Suffolk Health Protection Board
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Suffolk Cases
As of August 4 there have been 38,417 total lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk. In total there have been 5,045.9 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people. This is the lowest overall COVID-19 case rate in the East of England.
District case rate as of August 4, 2021
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From 2 July, the number of lab-confirmed positive cases now includes those identified by testing in all settings (pillars 1 and 2). Pillar 2 refers to tests in commercial labs working in partnership with the NHS. Previously, only Pillar 1 confirmed cases were included (tests completed in NHS labs).
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Overview
In the week up to August 4 there have been 1,643 new cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk.
The underlying rate of new weekly cases in Suffolk is now at 203.7 cases per 100,000 people. This rate is below the rates for the East of England region (249.3 / 100,000) and below England as a whole (288.1 / 100,000).
In total, up to July 23, 2021, which is the latest data from ONS, there have been 1,587 deaths in Suffolk where COVID-19 was recorded on the death certificate. There have been three COVID-19 related deaths in the seven days up to July 23.
The estimated ‘R’ value for the East of England is between 1.3 and 1.5. The estimated ‘R’ value for England as a whole is also 1.1 – 1.4.
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Weekly Cases and Rates COVID-19 cases are identified by taking specimens from people which are then tested, either using a PCR test which is processed in a lab, or by using a rapid lateral flow device (LFD).
Positive rapid lateral flow test results can be confirmed with PCR tests taken within 72 hours. If the PCR test results are negative, these are no longer reported as cases.
This policy was reintroduced in England on March 29, 2021. On April 9, 2021, a total of 116 cases with specimen dates after November 1. 2020, were removed from Suffolk’s cumulative total retrospectively due to meeting this criteria.
In the week up to August 4, 2021 there were 1,643 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk.
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It is possible to calculate a case rate by dividing the number of cases by the number of people in a given population – this makes it possible to compare cases across different areas.
The most recent underlying weekly case rate in Suffolk was 203.7 cases per 100,000 people.
In the last week of reported data up to July 21, there have been 174 cases in Babergh, 608 cases in East Suffolk, 302 cases in Ipswich, 210 cases in Mid Suffolk and 349 cases in West Suffolk.
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Total Cases and Rates
As of August 4, 2021 there have been 38,417 total lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk. In total there have been 5,045.9 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people
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Regional ‘R’ Number and growth rate
What is the R number? R represents the average number of onward infections that will be generated by a single infectious individual.
R tells us if the epidemic is getting bigger (>1) or smaller (
The current estimated regional ‘R’ numbers are below. (Source: University of Cambridge MRC Biostatics Unit).
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Death Registrations to July 23, 2021
In the most recent currently available data to July 23 there have been 1,587 deaths in Suffolk which mention COVID-19 on the death certificate. There have been three COVID-19 deaths in the most recent week of data.
In the last week, deaths due to causes other than COVID-19 have occurred at a lower level compared to the five-year average for Suffolk.
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Contact Tracing
Suffolk’s Public Health Team has responsibility for all contact tracing in Suffolk.
In the week up to August 3 a total of 91.2% of cases were successfully contact traced.
During the pandemic as a whole, 90.2% of cases have been successfully contact traced.
Both these figures are higher than the East of England average (82.8% in the last week and 89.3% for the pandemic as a whole) and England averages (80.7% in the last week and 86.9% for the pandemic as a whole).
For contacts of cases, in the seven days up to August 3 a total of 97.4% of contacts in Suffolk had been successfully contact traced, and during the pandemic as a whole 93.8% of contacts have been successfully contact traced.
These numbers are similar to the East of England (97.3% in the last week and 93.0% for the pandemic as a whole) and England averages (96.7% in the last week and 89.4% for the pandemic as a whole).
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Coronavirus cases in care homes
An outbreak is classed as a care home with two or more cases. These figures are listed on an area basis and will not include the details of any specific care homes. These figures include care homes, extra care housing and supported housing.
As a notifiable disease, care homes are required to report any potential or confirmed cases of Coronavirus to Public Health England (PHE) in order that this can be captured as part of the national reporting processes and also for PHE to provide advice and guidance on infection control.
Care providers are under no obligation to report suspected or confirmed cases to the county council.
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