Talk Community Helpline –
In order to support people to remain at home the Talk Community Covid-19 helpline continues to operate for those more vulnerable residents who are unable to source support from family, friends or their local community with food supplies, medication delivery or befriending. The Talk Community helpline can also support registration for online shopping slots that have been allocated to Herefordshire with Tesco and Iceland and for CEV’s through the national system. Please contact us or forward our contact details onto those requiring support to 01432 260027 or email talkcommunityhelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk
Volunteer register and support –
Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service (HVOSS) continues working as part of the ‘Talk Community Herefordshire COVID-19 Response’ to help ensure all members of the community are supported, for as long as is needed. Volunteers can Register here and roles include – Vaccination Programme Support (non-medical), Shopping for food and essentials, Collecting prescriptions, Leaflet Distribution, Check in and chat.
General Update –
The total number of lab-confirmed cases in the county throughout the course of the pandemic is now 4,794 (12 Jan). This is 658 more than for the same time last week. As has been the case for several weeks, this increase is the highest reported during the pandemic (increase of 633 the week before). The 7-day rate per 100,000 population has trebled since the mid-December, and the latest is 383 (8 Jan) – double the November peak. Rates are highest to date for most age groups, but the most recent increases have been driven by cases amongst 18-49 year-olds, with particularly high rates amongst 18-29 year-olds
Numbers of deaths involving Covid-19 continue to increase: published ONS data has so far included 16 occurring in the last week of 2020 (and registered by 8 Jan). PHE data indicates that a further 5 have occurred since, which will appear in future weeks’ official counts
Case rates have been rising rapidly since early December (apart from a dip over the Christmas weekend), and are now at the highest they’ve ever been. The Herefordshire 7-day rate has more than quadrupled in the three weeks to 8 January and is currently 383 per 100,000. This is twice the November peak of 193, which then fell as the national lockdown took effect. The Herefordshire pattern follows that seen across both England and the West Midlands although the local rate is 60% of both the national and regional figures.
Full details of the latest information for the county can be found on the Herefordshire County Council website via the Coronavirus Page.
Please note that the information on the HCC website is updated weekly