In the week up to the 27 October, there have been 3,917 new cases of COVID-19 in Suffolk. This is a decrease on the numbers in the previous week.
The rate of new weekly cases in Suffolk has decreased slightly and is now, at 528.3 cases per 100,000 people. This is above the rates for the East of England region (523.8 / 100,000) and for England as a whole (484.1 / 100,000).
In total, up to 15 October, there have been 1,644 deaths in Suffolk where COVID-19 was recorded on the death certificate. There have been 8 COVID-19 related deaths in the last 7 days.
The estimated ‘R’ value for the East of England is between 0.9 and 1.2 which has remained the same in the last week, but remains slightly higher than the ‘R’ value for England (0.9 – 1.1).
Suffolk bids for extra national resources in the battle with COVID
Public health bosses in Suffolk are asking the Government for extra help to fight COVID-19, amid increasing pressure on the county’s hospitals and some of the highest rates of infection in the country.
The request is being submitted by Public Health Suffolk – on behalf of public sector partners – and is intended to secure in additional support, funding and resources to help the NHS avoid unsustainable pressure. The additional support includes:
- Extra localised COVID-19 testing, often known as ‘surge testing’
- Logistical support to maximise vaccine take up and help deliver door knocking campaigns
- Additional control measures in schools
- Communications funding and support
- Fast tracked escalation of issues through the Government’s emergency response decision making processes.
If supported, the move would see Suffolk become an ‘enhanced response area’ (ERA) for up to five weeks and has already been used in other parts of the country to help reduce the rate of COVID-19 transmission within the community.
Read more on Suffolk County Council’s website.
Vaccine guidance for 12-15 year old’s
12 to 15 year old’s across England are now eligible to receive single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
Most children will be given their vaccine at school during school hours but this half-term parents and guardians can take their child to some additional clinics that are being set up across Suffolk and they can be vaccinated there.
If you chose to send your child to a half-term clinic, please book an appointment first. This will help with patient flow.
A full list of clinics is available on www.sneevaccine.org.uk
For Waveney residents, vaccine information in your area can be found on the Norfolk & Waveney CCG website.
Parents or guardians, must give consent to get their child vaccinated.
Suffolk and North East Essex ICS issue Covid booster advice
The Covid-19 booster vaccine is being offered across Suffolk.
The vital third dose offers a top-up to the protection the Coivd vaccine offers us and is being issues to those in eligible groups (as described above) and those who received their second dose at least six months ago.
For those people who are eligible for a vaccination you can visit the SNEE vaccine website which lists all of the available walk in clinics across Suffolk and north east Essex. People can also contact the Patient Helpline number to check – 0344 257 3961 – before you make a journey.