Blackpool's infection rate falls for third week running - but Fylde bucks Lancashire-wide trend by recording surge in Covid cases

Blackpool's infection rate has fallen for a third week running, according to analysis of Public Health England data.
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In the seven days to November 12, the resort recorded a rate of 319.8 per 100,000 people, down slightly from 322 the week before, official figures showed.

Some 446 people tested positive for Covid-19 that week, down from 449.

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The infection rate also dropped again in Wyre, from 335.4 to 250.7, with 281 fresh diagnoses.

An almost deserted Blackpool Promenade during the second national lockdown in November 2020 (Picture: Daniel Martino for JPIMedia)An almost deserted Blackpool Promenade during the second national lockdown in November 2020 (Picture: Daniel Martino for JPIMedia)
An almost deserted Blackpool Promenade during the second national lockdown in November 2020 (Picture: Daniel Martino for JPIMedia)

But Fylde bucked the Lancashire-wide trend by noting a surge in cases, with the infection rate rising from 272.3 to 295.9, with 239 new cases.

Whereas five weeks ago the north west was seeing some of the worst figures in the UK, the majority of Lancashire is now bucking the trend, recording falls in infection rates while 238 out of 315 areas of England continue to record rises.

Hull has the highest rate in England, followed by Oldham, although the rate there has fallen from 800.5 to 598 - the largest week-on-week drop in the country.

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Blackburn with Darwen in east Lancashire, which has the third highest rate, also saw a notable decrease, from 737.5 to 597.2.

Areas recording the biggest week-on-week jumps include Boston, Swale, and Scarborough.

Blackpool was placed under Tier 3 lockdown on Saturday, October 17, shortly after the rest of the county, with pubs and restaurants shut and freedoms curbed in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The entire nation was then plunged into a second national lockdown two weeks ago on Thursday. It is set to last until Wednesday, December 2.

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It will become clear tomorrow whether there has also been another drop in the number of patients with Covid in Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Clifton Hospital in St Annes.

Last Wednesday, there were 144, down from 159 the week before and 196 a fortnight earlier, according to medical director Dr Jim Gardner.

But the number is fluctuating on a daily basis and 29 people had died in the seven days before his weekly briefing.

Dr Gardner said: "Really it's a rather mixed picture, to be honest."

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Dr Gardner said he was still worried about the number of over-60s catching the bug, and said they're at particular risk of ending up in hospital or dying.

The deadliest day at the Vic remains Sunday, April 12, when 11 Covid-related deaths were recorded in the NHS's figures.

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