Home Health Live: Update on coronavirus in Northampton from public health officials at weekly press conference

Live: Update on coronavirus in Northampton from public health officials at weekly press conference

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Live: Update on coronavirus in Northampton from public health officials at weekly press conference

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Director of Public Health Northamptonshire, Lucy Wightman

Following the outbreak at the Greencore site last week, Public Health Northamptonshire has confirmed that they are currently dealing with 16 cases in the county but have not given any further information.

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To follow the press conference, which begins at 3pm, please remember to refresh the page for the latest updates.

Leader of Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Jonathan Nunn

Last updated: Friday, 21 August, 2020, 15:47

  • Weekly press conference from public health officials on the current state of coronavirus in Northampton
  • Announcement this afternoon that Greencore factory will close after today
  • Latest figures confirmed 16 outbreaks were being monitored across the county
  • Authorities say they will not release the details of where those outbreaks are, nor the numbers of affected in each case
  • Northampton reported as having the highest number of cases per 100,000 in the country
  • More testing sites brought in at large business parks as a result of Greencore outbreak

That’s it, Cllr Ian Morris concludes the meeting and urges people to follow guidance and new rules. 

Cllr Nunn concludes with a comment about car sharing. Car sharing is an issue and there is evidence of car sharing at Greencore and an outbreak of a smaller scale at another factory in the town. They are investigating links such as these.

Assistant chief constable from Northants Police says on enforcement that they are waiting for guidance from the government. We would hope that enforcement would be last resort.

Matt Precey asks about the enforcement and will it be stronger than before? Ms Wightman asked to defer that to the police. We would encourage people to be compliant. We would support enforcement if there was non-compliance. 

Ms Wightman said the situation is changing so rapidly and we will be reassessing that. at the moment I’d suggest not but we need to reinforce the message that we are not in the clear.  We are in  conversation with universities, schools and colleges.

Jack Duggan from the Chron asked if the changes from the Government will affect schools reopening?

Ms Wightman said what she said was that people are able to shop safely. We are clear that people have to go out on essential travel and shopping. 

BBC Northampton asks about concern from businesses around the test centre in the Market Square and people coming into the town. Isn’t this against the guidance of encouraging people to work from home, stay indoors and not mix. Is it a mixed message?

Cllr Ian Morris reiterated that the closure of the Greencore factory is a short term measure and the aim will be to limit the impact on staff. 

Moving on to some other questions now

There is a small impact. There is a focus on Greencore but there is still a fight that we are fighting across the county and need to continue with good practice. Northampton was already on the watchlist before the Greencore outbreak.

Ms Wightman – 85 per cent of employees at Greencore live in Northampton. Second highest area is Wellingborough.

Written question Kate Cronin at Northants Telegraph, asks about spikes in Wellingborough and other areas of the north of the county. Is this as a result of workers from Greencore?

Cllr Nunn said the likely review will be on each Thursday/Friday morning and there are a variety of measures that could be put in. It is very much a moving feast and all of us want public health to react as they need to, whether that be enforcement. There are a variety of other measures that could be introduced and considered.

Jack Duggan from the Chron asked if there is going to be any more intervention from the Government?

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