A FAMOUS proverb says that even ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’, and in light of the most recent updates in Cheshire’s Covid-19 fightback, it’s especially apt this weekend.

That’s because the last Local Democracy Reporting Service Weekend Feature examined Cheshire’s coronavirus position and predicted it was facing a cross-roads, in light of slowing infection rates and quickening vaccinations.

Now, it appears that those slowing infection rates might become the norm — and despite ‘phenomenal progress’ with the vaccine, there’s a long way to go yet for the county.

What’s happening with infection rates?

Cases are falling, undoubtedly. In Cheshire East, the most recent (February 7) 7-day rolling infection rate data is 167.1 cases per 100,000 residents — compared to 197.6 a week before.

In Cheshire West and Chester, the rate on February 7 was 181.9, compared to 269 a week earlier.

However, CWAC officials have also repeated their concerns that this decrease is still not as sharp as they would like.

Director of Public Health Ian Ashworth said: “That ski slope [of case rates] is more of a beginners’ slope coming down. I think my main message is we do not lift off early — otherwise we will see that explosion in cases.

“They are just not going down as quickly as we would have seen in the summer so it is vital we keep that spread down further. 

“[We do that by] encouraging people to get tested if they have symptoms. We recognise there’s a lot more research in play around other symptoms associated with coronavirus, rather than just a new continuous cough, a change in taste and smell, and a fever.

“So we’re looking to expand the access and ask people to consider getting tested for a number of other different symptoms — they include shortness of breath, body aches, nausea, and diarrhea.”

In Cheshire East, the slowing fall has been attributed to care home outbreaks.

That’s according to council leader Sam Corcoran, who on Friday (February 12) said: “The infection rate in Cheshire East fell sharply in January from a peak of about 450 per 100,000 — but last week the decline stopped at about 200.

“It appears that this was due to a number of outbreaks in care homes. The infection rate was declining in the general population, but increasing in the over-70 age group.

“The infection rate is now falling again… but this does show there is no room for complacency.”

Cllr Corcoran also pointed to the fact that the NHS will be under pressure for some weeks yet, not only treating Covid-19 patients, but also dealing with the backlog in other types of procedures that have been delayed.

Is the vaccine roll-out going well?

Unequivocally, yes. By the time you read this, the NHS could have offered a first dose to the top four priority groups in Cheshire.

That’s according to Clare Watson, Accountable Officer of NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group — the body organising the vaccine roll-out in Cheshire — who said that feat will be achieved ‘by Sunday’.

Ms Watson made her comments at Cheshire West Covid-19 Outbreak Board meeting, which also saw council Chief Executive Andrew Lewis say: “75,500 people have had their first dose of the vaccine since it started back in December. 

“That’s a 93 per cent take up rate for the over-75 age group.It is great to see that moving forward.

“We are now moving to the completion of the first four priority groups. We are on track to vaccinate all those by next week.

“It was a big step forward when we got final confirmation that we could open a mass vaccination centre at Chester Racecourse.”

Their confidence is seemingly reflected in the figures released by NHS England — which show 92 per cent of over-80s in Cheshire and Merseyside had their opening jab, extending to 89 per cent of all over-70s, by February 7.

Northwich Guardian:

That over-70 rate sits level with Greater Manchester, but behind Lancashire and South Cumbria — who have also vaccinated the greatest proportion of those over-80 with 94 per cent.

However, Cheshire and Merseyside does lead the way in the portion of over-80s with two doses — with its 14 per cent ahead of the 13 and 11 per cents of Greater Manchester and Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Northwich Guardian:

What's next?

Slow progress is still progress, which is welcome. 

It’s also been announced that the UK’s R-number — the number of people someone with Covid infects — is below 1 for the first time since July.

And, next week, the government will begin on planning Britain’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown, which will finally put a marker on how far away that end-of-tunnel light is.

So, little-by-little, Cheshire is eeking its way out of the third wave of cases — and back to life.