Wakefield no longer area of concern as new Covid-19 cases plummet

The district was declared an "area of concern" in July, after a spike in cases linked to a series of local outbreaks.

Last month, political leaders admitted they were concerned that the district may be put into a local lockdown, after the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the district rose above 20 in 100,000.

But in their latest report, released this evening, Public Health England has confirmed that Wakefield is no longer considered an area of concern.

This is how many cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in each area of Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford

Figures from NHS England suggest that the current rate of cases in the district is now 11.6 per 100,000 people, below the national average of 13.5.

A total of 2,138 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the district to date, with just 13 new cases confirmed since Monday, August 31.

There have been 339 coronavirus-related deaths at hospitals run by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, including Pontefract and Pinderfields hospitals.

Local lockdown restrictions have also been adjusted in areas of Calderdale and Kirklees, while neighbouring Leeds has been added to the watchlist.

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