New COVID-19 cases in Cumbria are continuing to fall as it is revealed that almost 40 per cent of Cumbria’s population has received the first dose of the vaccine.
In the week ending February 26, cases fell 34 per cent (556 to 368).
While new cases dropped significantly overall, infection rates in Allerdale and Copeland remained above the England average with Allerdale recording the greatest number of new cases for the second week in a row.
Hospitalisations continued to drop in week ending March 2, with the number of new patients admitted with COVID-19 positive status decreasing in both North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) by -52 per cent and -16 per cent respectively.
The new data shows that 37 per cent of Cumbria’s adult population has now received their first dose of the vaccine, slightly above the average for England.
Over 95 per cent of those aged over 70 have received their first dose.
Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: “I’m pleased we have been able to publish data about vaccination rates this week for the first time.
“It’s important that the public can see this information and it underlines that the vaccine roll-out is going incredibly well across the county.
“There has been a huge effort lead by the NHS and it really is no mean feat to have vaccinated over 150,000 people in the time we’ve had.
“In combination with the continued drop in new cases I’m encouraged about the progress we are making.
“But I’m very conscious that schools will welcome all pupils back next week and that is a major change.
“We’ll be watching the data very carefully to see what impact, if any, this has on infection rates. It remains really important that people stick to the COVID-19 restrictions and follow all the hygiene and physical distancing advice, it really does make a difference.”
Key points for Cumbria and districts include:
- There were 368 new cases in Cumbria (a decrease of 188, -34 per cent, from 556 cases in the previous week);
- Allerdale had the greatest number of new cases for the second week in a row (+106 new cases);
- Allerdale also replaced Barrow-in-Furness in having the highest rate of new cases (108 new cases per 100,000 population);
- Rates in Allerdale and Copeland were above the national average rate (England = 91 new cases per 100,000 population);
- However, rates in all Cumbrian districts were below the regional average rate (North West = 121 new cases per 100,000 population);
- New cases decreased from the previous week in all Cumbrian districts except Eden, where new cases increased by one case (+3 per cent);
- The 55-64 age group accounted for the greatest number of new cases in Cumbria, followed closely by the 25-34, 45-54 and 35-44 age groups;
- From week 7 to week 8 there were decreases in new cases in all age groups in Cumbria, except the 85+ age group;
- The 85+ age group experienced an increase of just 1 case (+8 per cent) from week 7 to week 8, following a 72 per cent decrease from week 6 to week 7;
- The greatest proportional decreases were seen in the 12-18 and 75-84 age groups, where new cases decreased by 69 per cent and 55 per cent respectively.
