Covid Update: Infections Remain at Low-level Across the County

Published on: 10 Aug, 2020
Updated on: 11 Aug, 2020

The low level of Covid-19 infection in Guildford and Surrey continues this week. There were just five new cases reported in Guildford and 46 in Surrey.

In England, the number of infections appears to be levelling, after rising slightly in July, according to a random swab-testing survey of almost 120,000 people by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The infection rate, known as the “R rate”, is reported to between 0.8 and 1 in the South-east, the UK’s most densely populated region. Locally, the R rate is likely to be lower but we have had no response from Surrey County Council to our requests for more localised information.

But as the government insisted schools must reopen in September despite any local lockdowns, Sir David King, who formerly served as the government’s chief scientific adviser, warned a national lockdown might need to be reimposed.

He told The Daily Mirror: “The government has a month to deal with the level of infectivity as it stands now. Reopening schools should be a priority, but we believe we are nowhere near where that can be done safely.

“We need a proper test and trace system by September. Otherwise I’m sure school opening will put us right back. We will see the government backing lockdowns and, yes, I do think this could happen nationally.”

The proportion of people in the UK who say they have been wearing face-coverings has gone up for the second week in a row, an ONS survey shows. In the week ending August 2, 96 per cent of people said they had worn a face-covering outside their home, up from 84 per cent in the previous week and 71 per cent the week before. Indications are that Guildford is following the national trend.

Local Covid-associated deaths, thankfully, also remain very low. None were reported again this week at the RSCH. There have been only two in the 10 weeks since June 1.

As shopping areas become more crowded it can be difficult to maintain the correct social distance.

But social distancing in the borough is not always being observed as can be seen on streets, in shops and among those enjoying recreation on the riverbanks and in parks.

Responses to Covid Update: Infections Remain at Low-level Across the County

Fiona Yeomans Reply

August 12, 2020 at 6:37 pm

Is it possible to find out how many tests are being administered in Guildford each week? Increased testing will almost certainly result in increased cases diagnosed (whether correctly or false positives) among those who would otherwise have gone undiagnosed because their symptoms are mild or not even apparent. It is generally the case that testing numbers are rising nationally.

Editor’s note: Unfortunately the number of tests conducted is not available but the incidence of infection is remaining low. So if the number of tests is increasing (it is mostly for those who believe they have symptoms) then infection as a percentage of the population could be falling.