PEOPLE across the Bradford district are being urged to do what they can to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the face of a rising infection rate and increased hospital admissions. 

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, tonight drove home the message that people must continue to adhere to the guidelines if the district is to turn a corner and bring the rate down. 

Everybody in Bradford is subject to local Covid-19 restrictions which ban the mixing of households in private homes and gardens. There was no change in the Government's weekly update tonight, but Leeds is now under the same rules as Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “Infection rates in all parts of Bradford District are continuing to rise and admissions into hospitals are increasing.

"We are working closely with our partners, health colleagues, voluntary sector organisations and our volunteers across the district to get the message out.  I ask every resident and business to do what they can to stay apart and limit the spread of this accelerating virus.

“Rapid turnaround on testing and easy access to testing are a big part of how to keep the virus at bay.  Obviously many residents have had issues accessing a test and Government have said they are addressing the shortage in testing capacity.  But I would still encourage anyone who is concerned that they have symptoms to get a test.  Over 11,000 people in the district were successfully tested last week.

“Here in the Bradford district we have built up a lot of experience of how to fight this virus. 

"We have the first stages of local test and trace in place, funded by us as a council and connected to the national system.  We are out in communities seven days a week delivering home testing kits, and returning completed kits for testing.  We are delivering leaflets, handing out masks and important messages about how to keep safe from the virus.

“Our environmental health and infection prevention teams are visiting businesses to provide support on being Covid compliant. We are working with Public Health England to identify contacts and cases in schools and provide self-isolation advice."

She added: “We need to continue to limit the number of contacts we have to our household bubble, keep to social distancing whilst outside the house, wash our hands regularly and wear face coverings in shops, public transport and other places where social distancing isn’t possible. 

"The government have also said we should work at home if possible, if we live with people that were previously shielding or extremely clinically vulnerable we need to try to maintain social distancing and regularly clean communal areas in our household. 

“Residents are also asked to download the newNHS COVID app . This will help users to be notified if they have come into contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19, as well as allow people to report symptoms, order a Covid-19 test, check into venues by scanning a QR code and help the NHS to trace individuals that may have Covid-19.

“It is a really difficult time at the moment as every single one us feels the impact of this virus but we must continue to adhere to these guidelines if we want to see that change in bringing infection rates down.”