Stamping out coronavirus hotspots in Hartlepool - health chiefs warn they need more data to identify infection blackspots

File picture of a coronavirus testing station at the Royal Navy Museum, Hartlepool. by FRANK REID

The first meeting of the Hartlepool coronavirus Outbreak Control Engagement Working Group took place on Monday, July 27, which discussed plans to help tackle the pandemic and guide the recovery.

Data released on Thursday, July 23 revealed Hartlepool’s case rate for the week ending Sunday, July 19 is 4.3 – which is up from 2.1 the previous two weeks.

Council health bosses noted they are looking into the rise to see what information can be taken from it, and whether it is influenced by factors such as increased testing.

Craig Blundred, acting director of public health at the council, said they began to gain access to extra data at the end of last week, and while it is helping, more support and information is still needed locally.

He added they also wanted to see data around occupations and workplaces.

The Hartlepool areas with the highest and lowest numbers of coronavirus deaths

He said: “There has been a lot of concern around the public health communities about the type of data and the timeliness of data that we are receiving.

“Certainly in the last week we have started to receive more data through the Public Health England track and trace programme, we are actually building a data set.

“It’s showing that we are seeing a bit of an increase in the numbers of people coming through who have tested positive.

“We are obviously keeping an eye on that because it is a concern that we need to be aware of, and we’re using the data that we are getting now to develop reports to whether we have any particular hotspots or key areas to look at.

“We’ve come a long way I think in terms of the data, but it’s still not everything that we actually need.”

Council health bosses added they will also be developing a newsletter to reinforce messaging around social distancing, hand hygiene and guidance on face masks.

Council chief executive Gill Alexander reinforced how the latest data is helping the council to form its response in the area.

She said: “We’ve only just been given access to data which we think can help to drive an intelligence and understanding of what is actually happening in the town, certainly the first cut of data there was issues around data quality and duplication.”

Council chiefs noted they will continue to push through the Local Government Association, the NHS and Public Health England, for the most detailed data possible.

Ms Alexander added they want to help build confidence, although coronavirus provides an ‘uncertain situation’ for everyone, and they are not out of the woods yet.

She said: “On the one hand we want to help build confidence, and on the other hand we are in a very uncertain situation.

“We know how very quickly with this virus a relatively small level of concern can escalate very quickly into a spike.

“What we also know is that social distancing and good hygiene works so we really need to be getting out somehow that the confidence building is linked to good social distancing and good hygiene.

“We’re not out of the woods yet and we need to continue to protect ourselves and each other.”

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