AS it stands, so-called ‘Freedom Day’ will be going ahead in two weeks’ time.

July 19 is the date pencilled in for the end of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, with a potential scrapping of mandatory social distancing and mask-wearing on the cards.

Restrictions were due to end on June 21, but this was pushed back due to rising cases of the Delta variant across the country.

Ahead of the much-anticipated date, we take a look at the current coronavirus situation in Warrington.

How many cases are being recorded in Warrington each week?

Warrington’s weekly coronavirus case total reached close to 700 over the past seven days after a sharp rise, latest data shows.

Public Health England figures reveal that in the week up to June 28, which is the most recent period for which data is available, 690 new Covid infections were recorded in the town through lab and rapid lateral flow testing.

Warrington Guardian:

This is the equivalent of 328.5 cases per every 100,000 residents, which is the 35th highest infection rate in England.

Case numbers in the town have again risen from the previous week up to June 21, when 441 infections were detected at a rate of 210.

Warrington is among 308 of 315 local areas in England that have seen a week-on-week rise in case rates (98 per cent), while four have seen a fall (one per cent) and three are unchanged.

How is Warrington Hospital coping in terms of patient numbers?

As of Friday afternoon, no patients were in the intensive care unit at Warrington Hospital as a result of coronavirus.

The positive news was revealed by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in its daily Covid-19 update.

Warrington Guardian:

The total number of patients receiving care at the Lovely Lane site after contracting Covid stood at nine.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,031 had been discharged from the hospital after recovering from coronavirus.

No new deaths had been recorded once again, with the trust’s Covid-19 death toll remaining at 499.

Is Warrington’s Covid vaccination programme still progressing well?

Almost two-thirds of residents in Warrington have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures reveal.

NHS data shows 109,531 people had received both jabs in the town by June 27, equating to 64 per cent of those aged 16 and over.

Moreover, 143,262 residents have received their first dose of the vaccine, or 84 per cent of the population aged 16 and over.

Warrington Guardian:

This means that vaccination teams have successfully given out 252,793 jabs since Warrington’s vaccination programme began in December.

Despite the success of the rollout, some staff at care homes in Warrington have not been vaccinated.

The figures show 1,835 out of 2,145 eligible staff, including agency workers, at older adult care homes had received a first dose by June 27 – meaning 14 per cent have not had a jab.

The Government plans to make the jab mandatory for staff over concerns for residents.

How is Covid affecting schools and education settings in the town?

Self-isolation for whole school year groups after a positive coronavirus test is proving to be ‘very disruptive’.

That is the view of council chief Steven Broomhead who has backed calls for an end to self-isolation in school bubbles.

The Government is conducting a review into using Covid testing to end self-isolation for school pupils in bubbles due to the disruption to learning by forcing pupils to study at home.

Warrington Guardian: Calls have been made for ‘disruptive’ school bubble self-isolation to end (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)Calls have been made for ‘disruptive’ school bubble self-isolation to end (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

According to Warrington Borough Council, more than a quarter of education settings in the town had confirmed coronavirus cases on July 1.

The phrase ‘education settings’ includes early years, primary schools, high schools, special schools and further education.

In total, 2,458 pupils were being asked to self-isolate after being deemed a close contact of someone who had tested positive at 48 education settings.

Prof. Broomhead said: “It is very disruptive for the education of the child and it is very disruptive for families too who have to isolate.

“We are concerned that sending a whole year group home is not proportionate to one positive test, so we are pushing back on it.”