No local lockdown in 'area of concern' Wakefield as coronavirus clusters emerge in West Yorkshire

Leeds City Council has announced a series of 'key actions' to take place in communities which have a 'cluster' of coronavirus cases.

It follows Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, which announced stricter lockdowns last week.

Wakefield is still classed as an “area of concern” although the latest set of weekly data –between July 20 and July 26 – shows the positive case rate has decreased

The figure fell from 17.4 cases per 100,000 population the previous week to 13 positive cases per 100,000.

A rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 in parts of Leeds has prompted a call for communities to work together to help keep the city safe and prevent the virus spreading from the council.

The Leeds Outbreak Control Board has identified clusters of cases in neighbourhoods within Kirkstall, Harehills and surrounding areas.

The city's seven day rate has also tripled in the last week, figures show.

Anna Hartley, Wakefield Council’s director of public health, confirmed the rate of infection was not as high in Wakefield as other places.

At the start of last week, the council had predicted there would be an “improvement” in the local situation, after a rise in the number of cases last month.

That was mainly linked to outbreaks in workplaces such as Forza Foods in Normanton and at Urban House – a residential complex for asylum seekers.

At a meeting the council’s chief legal officer Gillian Marshall was asked if Wakefield was in “good stead” to cope with a potential second wave.

She said: “Absolutely.

“What we hope to have is a plan ready for all the various scenarios that may come forward in the winter.

“We obviously hope there won’t be, but a second wave is something we are preparing for.”

She said the council was still working through new powers handed down by government to all local authorities, which will allow them to close premises and cancel events to address spikes.

However, the district remains classed an “area of concern”, meaning its case figures are being scrutinised closely.