CUMBRIA’S most senior public health official has confirmed there is currently no up-to-date figure for the number of coronavirus cases in the county.
But Colin Cox, the county council’s director of public health, said he welcomed the news that the government was planning to ramp up the amount of testing that will be done for Covid-19.
Over the weekend, the Prime Minister said that testing of mild cases would cease and instead testing would be done only for those who are seriously ill with the virus and in hospital.
Public Health England stopped confirming local case numbers a week ago with the last figure for Cumbria standing at nine cases - though that number has certainly risen.
There is currently no way of knowing how many people are infected in the county.
Commenting on the hospital tests currently being done locally, Mr Cox said: “Those results are not going to tell us much because it’s limited testing. But it’s the tip of an iceberg.”
Asked whether public health officials had any clear information about the scale of the epidemic in Cumbria, he said: “No - because of the changes in the data system and reporting. We’re not clear because we don’t have any data. There are cases being reported to the hospitals because that is who has been doing the testing. But the government is now ramping up testing, particularly in the first instance for healthcare workers. I’m glad about that. It’s obviously particularly important to know if a healthcare worker has the virus.”
The government this week set up far more stringent social distancing measures, urging an end to all large gatherings and telling people to avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Asked whether people should avoid weddings, Mr Cox said: “That’s a really difficult call for people to make. At the moment, registration offices are taking weddings until we get alternative guidance. We don’t want to bring together large numbers of people, many of who should be sheltered.”
He added that he expects the epidemic to peak in about two months.
A former director of public health in the county, Professor John Ashton, said of the current lack of conronavirus data: “I think it’s a disgrace. Data’s fundamental. The World Health Organisation has made it clear there needs to be testing to control this.
"Testing, testing, testing: that’s their message to governments. It matters because we need to know: professionals need to know, and the public needs to know."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel