'Caution' urged over figures showing South Tyneside among highest for coronavirus infection rate

Data prepared by health bosses for the borough showed it had the third highest number of infections in the region per 100,000 people, after Gateshead and Sunderland.

But they also claimed this ‘crude’ measure of COVID-19 could be skewed by the overall number of tests carried out, as well as differences between testing regimes.

“We’re amongst the highest in terms of the case rates in the region, alongside Sunderland and Gateshead and very similar to Middlesbrough,” said Matt Brown, director of operations at South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

“There is a reality here that the more tests you have, the more cases you know you have, so I think we have to be a bit careful about the use of this information.

“This is the number of people who have tested positive – that is not the same as the underlying prevalence of disease in the community.”

Brown was speaking at a meeting of South Tyneside CCG’s governing body, which was held by video conference and broadcast via YouTube.

According to a report for care bosses, up to May 10, Sunderland had a COVID infection rate of 477.6 per 100,000, while in South Tyneside it was 447.9.

Gateshead was the highest in the North East, with 478.5.

But Brown pointed out that while the three areas were united by an apparently high infection rate, they have also shared the same local testing system.

“If you have an old age profile, you’re more likely to find more positive cases,” he said.

“Where there are more people in hospitals and care homes, you’re more likely to test and more likely to find positive cases.

“South Tyneside, Gateshead, and Sunderland all used a Gateshead lab with excellent facilities and a really high level of sensitivity.”

This ‘pillar one’ testing system contributes to coronavirus infection figures reported by local authorities.

However the national ‘pillar two’ system, which includes the testing facility set up at Ikea, in Gateshead, does not contribute to local data.

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