'We cannot afford to drop our guard' - Warning as South Tyneside's Covid-19 case rate remains region's lowest
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According to the latest data from Public Health England, the borough currently has the lowest case rate for the region, alongside Sunderland and Redcar & Cleveland.
A weekly report is now being released every Thursday, showing the latest Covid-19 case rates per 100,000 population by local authority area.
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Hide AdFigures released on Thursday, July 9, show that South Tyneside’s case rate for the week ending Sunday, July 5 is 0.7 – the same number recorded for the previous week ending Sunday, June 28.
The figure combines both pillar one and pillar two testing.
Pillar one tests take place in a laboratory setting, while pillar two covers tests carried out in the wider community.
Welcoming the figures,Tom Hall, Director of Public Health, thanked the public for continuing to follow Public Health England guidance – but stressed that people cannot afford to be complacent.
He said: “It is encouraging news that South Tyneside continues to have the lowest number of new cases of coronavirus in the North East.
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Hide Ad“This is due, in no small measure, to the fact that people are continuing to follow the Public Health guidance and I’d like to thank them for doing their bit.
“However, it is important to stress that the virus is still active in our communities and we cannot afford to drop our guard.
"We all have a responsibility to continue to do all we can to help contain the virus by adhering to the guidelines around social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene.
"I would also urge people to self-isolate and get tested if they do develop coronavirus symptoms. This is simple and easy to do by visiting www.nhs.uk or by calling 119.
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Hide Ad“Although lockdown eases is easing we cannot afford to be complacent.
"It is imperative that we continue to do all we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and the health and care system.”