Did Lockdown 2 work in Hartlepool? The Covid case rates at the start and end of November

A second lockdown was imposed across England on November 5, amid concerns the Government’s three tier coronavirus alert system was failing to stem the rise in cases nationwide.

The new regulations come to an end this Wednesday, December 2 – at which point Hartlepool and the entire North East will be placed onto tier three of the Government’s coronavirus restrictions.

During lockdown, people were told to remain at home unless they had to leave for work, education, to shop for essentials or exercise.

Support and childcare bubbles remained in place and people were still able meet up in their bubble but non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues were ordered to close and bars, pubs and restaurants were only allowed to offer takeaway services.

The latest figures suggest the second lockdown has been successful in getting to grips with the rising number of coronavirus cases in Hartlepool.

The town has recorded 249 new coronavirus cases between Sunday, November 22, and Sunday, November 29.

That is almost the number of new cases confirmed during the first week of lockdown when 494 new cases were recorded.

The weekly infection rate has also fallen during lockdown.

The rate for the seven days to November 23 (the last four days’ figures are excluded in case of inaccuracy) was 315 per 100,000 people, a fall of 247.7 on the 562.7 a week earlier.

By contrast, the rate rose in the first seven days of lockdown.

There were 334.2 cases in the seven days to October 31 (the weekly rate cut-off for the day lockdown started), which rose to 455.9 a week later, a jump of 121.7 more new cases per 100,000 people each week.

The sad news, though, is that the town’s coronavirus death rate has risen during lockdown.

The North Tees and Hartlepool Trust recorded six virus-related deaths in the seven days after November 5.

But there were 27 virus-related fatalities in the trust in the seven days before November 29.

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