Latest Covid figures for Wakefield as district at 'crucial' point in fight against coronavirus

Cases of coronavirus in the district have risen once more, and now stand at a rate of 256 per 100,000, up from 149 per 100,000 at the start of December.

Councillor Faith Heptinstall, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “The infection rate in the district is unfortunately starting to increase and so it is absolutely crucial for everyone to act now and follow the important guidance and restrictions currently in place.

“We absolutely must avoid the infection rate increasing rapidly, if we don’t, we will see more hospital admissions and our local NHS services risk being overwhelmed, and inevitably, and sadly, more lives will be lost.”

These are the latest Covid figures for every area of Wakefield and the Five Towns - including Pontefract, Castleford, Ossett and Outwood

A total of 16,796 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the district since March, up from 14,100 this time last month.

At least 828 people have died after testing positive for the virus, including 696 at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and a further 129 people at the district's care homes.

And the district's health services remain under "significant pressure", it has been warned.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals, said there are currently 181 patients receiving treatment for Covid-19, up from 160 last week.

Jo Webster, Chief Officer at NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Health services across Wakefield continue to be under significant pressure. You can help your local NHS by following the guidance, isolating immediately if you have symptoms, and choosing the right local service if you or your family need healthcare.

“If you’re not sure which service to use and it’s not a life-threatening emergency, call NHS111 or visit NHS online. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By choosing the right service in Wakefield you will get the right treatment in the most appropriate place and avoid an unnecessarily long wait to be seen.

"You will also be ensuring that local services can operate as effectively as possible and are available for the most critically ill people when they need them.”

A local testing offer for COVID-19 has opened in Wakefield, to work alongside and to enhance the national programme.

Residents in the district who suspect they have symptoms of the virus can now access tests via a home delivery service but people are urged to try the national system first.

The local testing service is available from Monday to Friday and bookings for appointments can be made at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 01924 224497.

Anyone displaying coronavirus symptoms is urged to get a test by accessing local testing or by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.

Anna Hartley, Director of Public Health for the Wakefield district, said: “We have started to see an increase in cases across the district and sadly there were 17 deaths from Covid-19 last week. These are all incalculable losses to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who have died.

“We are aware that the new variant is already spreading rapidly in other areas of the country and so we must all take immediate action to protect ourselves and others from the very real threat of COVID-19. Although we understand the new strain does not affect people differently, it is spreading at a much faster rate which will severely impact local health services if we don’t do all we can to limit the spread.

“One of the most important actions people must take is to self-isolate if they have tested positive, have been confirmed as a contact of someone who has tested positive or are in the same household. You must also isolate if you have symptoms and are awaiting a test or results. If you do this, you will save lives.”