More Derbyshire districts could be moved to 'high' tier two of Covid alert system

This week, Glossopdale in the High Peak was plunged into tier two local Covid-19 lockdown restrictions after a persistently-high number and rate of new cases.

It now sits at 173 cases per 100,000 people.

Now Erewash and North East Derbyshire have both seen their rate of cases increase rapidly, pushing the rate of ‘high alert’ Glossopdale.

The rate of new cases in Erewash is now 158, four times the rate it had just over two weeks before, resulting in 182 new cases in the week of October 4 ot October 10.

Its rate of infections will be under close watch due it representing the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Nottingham is also under tier two restrictions with a ban on different households mixing indoors, including in pubs.

It has the highest rate of new cases in the country with 880 per 100,000 people – eight times that of Derby – with 2,931 confirmed cases last week.

This week, Erewash Borough Council has been alerting residents to a rising number of new cases in the area, telling them to isolate immediately if they develop Covid-19 symptoms and to book a test.

It has also asked residents to ‘do your bit to help stop the spread and avoid a local lockdown’ by washing their hands regularly, keeping their distance from others and wearing a face covering.

It has also clarified that despite some areas of Erewash, such as Long Eaton and Sandiacre, having a Nottinghamshire postcode, the towns are in Derbyshire and not under tier two restrictions announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

In the week September 27 to October 3 there were 74 new cases in the areas of Erewash bordering Nottingham and this has risen to 120 for the week of October 3 to October 9.

During that week, the most recent for local data, Sawley saw the most new cases in Erewash with 29, up from 10 the week before.

Behind Sawley is Long Eaton South with 16 cases, up from three the week before and 13 cases in Breaston & Draycott, which has fluctuated around the same amount for a week.

Alongside this, North East Derbyshire, which had a persistently high rate of cases during the height of the pandemic, above the rest of the county and city, now has a rate of 152 cases per 100,000 people.

This is also four times the rate it had just over two weeks ago with 154 new cases last week.

Lee Rowley, North East Derbyshire MP said this week: “The statement from the Prime Minister highlights the challenge that we are now facing again nationally with coronavirus.

“Speaking with the Royal Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where 18 patients have now tested positive with Covid, highlights we have a growing issue locally, too.

“No decisions have been taken regarding North East Derbyshire to date and lots of discussions are under way.

“The last thing anyone wants is more restrictions on daily life and the challenges we know it will bring – but the virus is rising substantially.”