“WE’VE still got a long way to go” — that’s the message from Bracknell Forest’s top public health expert despite the borough’s coronavirus infection rate having fallen considerably in the past month.

The weekly rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population now stands at 248.9, slightly up from the data reported yesterday (February 2) when the rate was recorded at 243.2.

But this is way down from the rate reported one week ago (328) and considerably lower than the number given one month ago, when Bracknell Forest recorded a figure of 734.4 (data published on January 3).

The rate is now at a similar level to that reported on December 17, when the figure was given as 240.7.

Bracknell Forest Council’s public health chief Charlotte Pavitt discussed the figures at a meeting of the authority’s outbreak engagement board on Tuesday, February 2, before the figures for that day had been released.

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She said: “Our weekly rate per 100,000 is now at 251.3 [reported February 1], so [it is] still continuing to move in the right direction.

“In terms of our testing, again there’s been a slight reduction in the number of people being tested but that’s to be expected with fewer people experiencing symptoms and therefore not requiring to go for a test.

“But in line with that, we’ve also a reduction in the proportion of tests that were positive, which indicates a reduction in community transmission locally.

“Rates are reducing across all of our neighbouring local authorities in Berkshire and we are now below the south-east average when it comes to our case rate per 100,000.

“So all moving in the right direction and a positive spin.”

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Despite this, Ms Pavitt warned that Bracknell Forest’s rate is still within one of the highest data thresholds her team uses to judge the spread of covid-19.

Those areas with case rates of greater than 250 confirmed cases per 100,000 people over seven days are given a ‘maroon’ designation.

Case rates from between 151 to 250 are ‘dark red’, 51 to 150 is ‘red’, 25 to 50 is ‘amber’ and lower than 25 is ‘green’.

Bracknell News:

Ms Pavitt added: “We’ve still got a long way to go until we get to this safer green zone.

“There’s been a steep decline in numbers following national lockdown after the Christmas period.

“What we are seeing locally, however, is once we get to the 400 cases per 100,000 is that that decline starts to level off.

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“We just need to remain vigilant, to continue to adhere to the lockdown rules and regulations, and to adhere to the hands, face and space to really make sure that decline in the rate continues over the next few weeks.”

The board met on Tuesday, February 2.