rural areas given fresh hope of being ‘decoupled’ from neighbouri hotspots

11 min readDec 7, 2020

The Telegraph reports that rural parts of England have been given fresh hope of being ‘decoupled’ from COVID-19 hotspots under the highest tier restrictions after Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP (Con) told Conservative MPs their area would be assessed on its ‘own merits’

In a letter to Dr Liam Fox MP (Con) and John Penrose MP (Con), whose constituencies are in rural areas of North Somerset, Mr Hancock signalled the local authority would be assessed independently of nearby Bristol.

This came as Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference that he understood it was ‘incredibly frustrating’ that some areas that had been ‘attracted into a higher tier by proximity to some other neighbourhood that has a higher incidence of infection’.

He added that when the tiers are reviewed on December 16th, ministers would ensure that decisions were ‘as local’ and ‘sensitive as we can possibly be to local achievement and local incidence of the disease’.

Prince Charles has thanked all those who have been involved in the development of the Covid-19 vaccine, saying people can “look forward with renewed hope”.

He spoke during a visit with the Duchess of Cornwall to Salisbury Cathedral as the first vaccinations will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs from Tuesday.

The engagement was to mark the 800th anniversary of the founding of the cathedral and the royal couple both wore colourful facemasks to meet guests.

During the service, those attending sat in single chairs at a safe social distance from each other.

Addressing the service, Charles said: “As we gather here, we are profoundly aware of all those who have gone before us, who have bequeathed us the magnificent legacy of this glorious building, and who have maintained the spiritual community which has kept the flame of faith alive here for so many centuries.

“Over the years, that faith has sustained this city and this land through many trials and has done so through the many months of the pandemic we are currently experiencing.

“Over the years, each challenge in turn has been overcome, and that is the case today when, thanks to the inspiring work of all those who have been involved in providing vaccines, we can now look forward with renewed hope.”

Charles also visited Salisbury in the wake of the Novichok poisonings which hit the city in 2018 where he praised residents’ community spirit.

“In your response to the pandemic too, it is clear from all I have seen and heard that you have met every hardship with an even greater resolve,” he said.

“No-one who contemplates this almost impossibly beautiful building can be in any doubt that those who raised it, in the face of every difficulty, have found successors who are their equal in determination.

“That continuity, it seems to me, is crucial. There is a sense in which this cathedral was not completed in 1258 — and has never been completed. Work on it has continued ever since.

“Visitors who believe their view is marred by scaffolding are experiencing what every age has experienced.

“The work of building, of maintaining and of protecting for the future is for us all to take forward, in each generation — as you have done so splendidly here.

“This is a living building; these are living stones, just as the Church of Christ, whose coming we remember at this Advent time, is always meant to be.”

Before leaving, the prince and duchess signed the visitors’ book to mark the occasion.

Salisbury is unique among English cathedrals in having moved from one location to another and that move was the catalyst for the city to develop.

The move from Old Sarum was politically, logistically and commercially audacious, made in defiance of the Kings’ men, with an ambitious building plan that would challenge even modern, technologically advanced builders.

More than 50 years later, the cathedral boasted a 123-metre spire — the tallest medieval spire in the country.

Stansted Airport passengers can be tested for coronavirus from this week.

The airport has launched a new Covid-19 testing facility today, December 7, as part of a move by its parent company, Manchester Airports Group (MAG).

The announcement means the full range of four different tests will be available to all passengers in a new, purpose-built facility inside the main terminal building.

MAG also became the first operator to give its passengers the chance to book discounted pre-flight testing appointments on the high street at selected Boots UK stores.

The news means passengers using Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports will be given maximum flexibility when planning their trips and comes in the week that the UK government lifts England’s international travel ban.

Certain governments allow pre-departure tests in order to shorten or completely alleviate quarantine requirements in the destination country. Others require them in order to gain entry.

Having a full range of tests available at the airport — for any passenger planning to fly who does not suspect they have Covid-19 — will let MAG passengers choose whichever process they need to meet the pre-departure testing requirements of their destination country.

Many countries do not require travellers to get a test or isolate, but some do.

In Iceland, for example, travellers must pay for a coronavirus test or self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

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Passengers will also be able to book the tests they need to shorten their self-isolation period upon return under the UK government’s ‘Test to Release’ scheme.

The scheme, announced last week, will launch on December 15 and allow travellers arriving from higher-risk countries to reduce their period of quarantine by taking a test five days after they arrive in the UK.

‘Test to Release’ follows in the footsteps of a number of countries who are already offering quarantine-free inbound travel to those able to provide evidence of a negative test.

Boots offer an in-store RT-PCR Covid-19 testing service, which returns results within 48 hours from more than 50 stores across the UK, specifically for customers who do not suspect they have Covid-19.

MAG passengers will be able to access a 5 per cent discount, which customers can access through the airport’s website.

London Stansted Airport Covid-19 testing centre. (Image: MAG)

Airport testing prices start at £40 for Antibody tests, £50 for Antigen tests, £79 for RT-LAMP tests and £99 for RT-PCR tests.

Tests will be delivered in partnership with airport services and travel medical provider, Collinson.

Steve Griffiths, managing director of London Stansted, said: “As England emerges from a ban on international travel, we know our passengers are keen to start flying again, but many of Stansted’s most popular destinations require a negative test before you arrive in the country.

“This new facility will make the process of showing you’re infection-free when booking a holiday as easy and cost-effective as possible in the current circumstances. Our new booking portal makes it easy to select the right test for your destination, and at the location that is most convenient for you.

What’s the difference between all the tests available?

PCR testing is the most sensitive test that is currently available.

It is able to detect active infection some days before the patient is infectious or symptomatic.

It is the gold standard test; used in the NHS daily.

PCR testing takes around 5 hours to be performed, but as some elements sometimes have to be repeated, a turnaround time of 24 hours is often given.

LAMP testing is another form of genetic test, able to detect the RNA of the virus.

It is a more recent development than PCR and is generally faster and cheaper than PCR but is not considered to be as sensitive, but is still more sensitive than antigen testing.

LAMP tests might be able to detect patients immediately before symptoms are displayed but this is unsure at present.

Antigen testing is the fastest and cheapest of all lab tests for Covid-19. Unlike PCR and LAMP, the genetic material of the virus is not searched for, but rather the protein structures on a virally infected cell produced by Covid-19, usually the so-called ‘spike’ protein.

Antigen tests often become positive after having had symptoms for a couple of days.

Their use is particularly powerful when patients are attending communal events and a quick check needs to be performed to see if attendees are infectious with Covid-19.

Also during winter months, when people often have symptoms of the common cold or flu, performing an antigen test will ascertain whether the condition is the coronavirus or not.

Antibody testing is a test that looks for the presence of virus antibodies in the system.

The presence of antibodies indicates that the patient has previously had Covid-19, as their body has developed the antibodies necessary to fight off the virus.

However, a lack of antibodies does not indicate that the person has not had Covid-19, as not every patient develops them, and much is still to be understood about how long the antibodies last in the patient’s system.

“This also means Stansted is perfectly placed to support the introduction of a UK arrivals testing regime, which will enable travellers to reduce the length of time they need to self-isolate if they test negative.

“Subject to the relevant tests securing government approval, this could free people from quarantine after just five days.

“This is the latest example of MAG leading the way as we look to work with the government and the rest of our industry to get Britain flying again.”

MAG’s service will cater for both outbound and inbound testing, and adapt as government travel requirements change.

Currently, The Brakenhale School and Sandy Lane Primary School have a small number of cases, which are spread across more than one bubble.

In total, twelve schools across Bracknell Forest have reported covid-19 cases.

These include:

Meadowvale Primary School

Crowthorne CE Primary School

Cranbourne Primary School

Holly Spring Primary School

Harmanswater Primary School

Ranelagh School

Easthampstead Park Community School

The authority has said that children who have not been advised to self-isolate should continue to attend school as long as their bubble, year group or school isn’t closed.

Larger scale outbreaks are also happening across three schools in the borough, and they are being closely monitored by the council.

Garth Hill College, Sandhurst School and Warfield CE Primary School have reported Covid-19 outbreaks.

Councillor Gareth Barnard, executive member for children, young people and learning, said: “We know that given a recent increase in cases and as we’re now on the run up to Christmas, some parents will have concerns about continuing to send their child to school. However, I’d like to reiterate that our schools are doing absolutely everything possible to keep pupils and staff safe while providing the education that our children need to thrive and develop.

“It’s really important for children’s intellectual and social education that they continue going to school and it’s also important for their mental health and wellbeing. For those reasons, I’m urging everyone with school aged children to ensure they go to school as normal unless they have COVID-19 symptoms, live with someone who has symptoms or have been told to self-isolate or their school is temporarily closed.

“I would urge parents and carers to speak directly to their child’s school if they have ongoing concerns or enquiries so that these can be looked in to and appropriate advice and reassurance can be provided.”

Bedworth’s Covid-19 rate is falling — but one area remains above 300.

There has been a drop in rate in the town since when one area hit the 700 per 100,000 people mark.

But some parts of the town are still showing high rates.

According to the government’s interactive map, the seven day rate up to December 1, the Coalpit Field and Exhall rate stood at 347.3 per 100,000 people.

The Bedworth town centre rate is the second highest, at 247.2 per 100,000 people.

Warwickshire’s Covid-19 hotspots show rate rate fall

Council sends out thousands of Tier 3 warnings to residents

Elsewhere, the rate is way below the 200 mark.

What is happening in other parts of town

The rate in the Bedworth Woodlands area in the week leading up to December 1, was 100.6 per 100,000 people.

Ash Green and Keresley’s rate stood at 151.8 per 100,000 population.

Bulkington’s rate per 100,000 people was 114.8 and Bedworth Heath was 64.8 per 100,000 people.

Just down the A444, Nuneaton’s rate is also dropping — but there is one area with a rate above 400.

Mass testing

Both towns will soon welcome Mass Covid-19 testing.

As we reported in our newsletter,the testing in Bedworth is set to start next week.

From Monday, December 14 it will go live at the Saunders Club and will be for those aged over 18 who are not showing Covid-19 symptoms in a bid to stop the spread among those who are asymptomatic.

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They were all reported by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. One patient died on Saturday, while the other four patients died on November 13, November 12, November 11 and November 5.

It means the total number of hospital deaths in the Bradford district, according to the daily figures released by NHS England, now stands at 581–407 at Bradford Teaching Hospitals; 172 at Airedale and two at the Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Nationally, 190 hospital deaths were reported.

The figures are updated at 2pm each day and include confirmed death cases reported at 4pm the previous day.

NHS England says: “Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification, death certificates and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure.

“This means that the totals reported at 4pm on each day may not include all deaths that occurred on that day or on recent prior days.”

rural areas given fresh hope of being ‘decoupled’ from neighbouri hotspots

What’s the difference between all the tests available?

What is happening in other parts of town

Mass testing

Written by Kabinek