But Kirklees Council’s chief Public Health figure stresses there’s still no room for complacency

Rates of positive COVID-19 tests have dropped by a whopping 28 per cent in Kirklees over the last seven days.
That means 26.9 per 100,000 people in Kirklees tested positive for COVID-19 over the last seven days, compared to last week when it was 37.38 per 100,000.
The news will come as a massive relief to Kirklees Council and NHS leaders who have pulled out all the stops to get a grip on the infection rates, with the news that 5,000 people would be tested each week as testing plans went into overdrive.
The news is a double celebration as the government announced that local restrictions would be lifted for the majority of Kirklees residents from Wednesday, 2 September, including Huddersfield and Colne Valley, but will remain in place in Dewsbury and Batley for now as rates are higher there.
Although these local restrictions are being lifted in some areas, people are still being infected across the whole borough so it’s still crucial that people continue to follow national guidance and stay safe no matter where you live.
‘We have not experienced a sharp spike in cases’
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Kirklees Council’s strategic director for Public Health, said: “The data tells us that the virus is still spreading, but rates have dropped by 28% over the last seven days and we have not experienced a sharp spike in cases like many other areas have.
“The government has today announced that local restrictions will be lifted for the majority of Kirklees from 2 September which is a really positive step forward.
“However, they will remain in place for the time being in Dewsbury and Batley where rates are higher.
“Our infection rates are still above the national average, so we need to continue with our work on the ground, targeting areas most at risk but were clearly heading in the right direction. We hope to see the local restrictions lifted in all areas next.
“Residents still need to be cautious, no matter where you live, and we ask you all to please continue to follow social distancing and hand hygiene guidance.
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“If you do have symptoms, no matter how mild they might be, please get a test. In Kirklees, we have a strong testing infrastructure in place and we are well on with our plans to support it with a local tracing system which complements the national programme, to help reach people who might be at risk of infection.
“Getting tested and self-isolating if you test positive could save someones life and in the long run this will bring our rates down.
“Thank you to everyone across Kirklees for your continued efforts to fight this virus.”