UPDATED: Flintshire Covid infection rate “continues to improve”

Update Tuesday: The latest data from Public Health Wales shows that Flintshire recorded the second lowest number of infections since the end on November.

27 new cases were reported in the county in the latest data published today.

That has had an overall impact on the seven day rolling incidence and sees Wrexham top the ‘table’ once again with the highest rate in Wales.

The seven day incidence rate in both Flintshire (221 per 100,000 population) and Wrexham (235 per 100,000 population) remain double that of the all Wales figure (114 per 100,000 population) but are reducing.

From Monday: Flintshire now has the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections across all of Wales.

According to the latest figures published by Public Health Wales, 362 people tested positive for Covid in Flintshire during the seven days to February 3.

Cardiff, with double the population of Flintshire, saw the most new Covid cases for the same period with 363, just one more than Flintshire.

The seven day rolling incidence rate per 100,000 population for Flintshire now stands at 231, it means neighbouring Wrexham, which has seen the the highest infection rates in Wales since before Christmas drops below Flintshire on 229.

The incidence rate is falling in Flintshire, but it appears to be at more gradual pace than the rest of Wales.

The all Wales seven day rolling case rate – one of the key metrics used to decide if restrictions are imposed or lifted – is half that of Flintshire and Wrexham, was 116 as of Monday, the lowest since October and lowest of all UK nations.

During Monday’s Welsh government press conference, health minister Vaughan Gething was asked if he had concerns about the higher rates of Covid in north east Wales, he said: “Of course it is a concern, but you’ll also see that there are falling rates of Coronavirus in northeast Wales and that’s really good news.”

“What we need to do is concentrate on what each of us can do within our family, within our community, within our individual choices.

“That’s what’s helping to drive down Coronavirus rates, the rules that government has put in place, the extraordinary measures we’ve had to take, are only effective if people follow those rules and act within the guidance.”

“That is what’s happening, that’s why even with the highly infectious Kent strain of the virus, we’re seeing those case rates falling and giving us the headroom to open up face to face learning after half term for our youngest children.

Given the slower rates decline in Flintshire, we asked the council about Test Track and Protect and what the data is showing in terms of where infections were taking place,  such as workplaces, supermarkets or on transport for example.

We didn’t receive any information on the Test Track and Protect data, the council’s Chief Executive, Colin Everett, did however say: “We monitor the incidence rate and test positivity rate daily, and expect both to continue to fall steadily over the coming weeks.”

“The situation continues to improve noting that at its height the local incidence rate was approaching 800 per 100,000 population.”

Primary school children aged between three and seven will begin a phased return to schools across Wales following half-term, education minister Kirsty Williams confirmed last week.

Anglesey Council’s leader has said schools on the island’s could remain shut unless ‘frightening’ covid transmission rates reduce significantly over the coming weeks.

Ynys Môn has bucked the Welsh trend in being the only county to show an actual increase in cases last week, leading to council chiefs issuing a plea on residents to respond to the “extremely concerning” situation.

The seven day rate on Anglesey is around 30 per cent lower than that Flintshire, but is rising rapidly.

We asked Flintshire Council if it was considering delaying the return of foundation phase pupils to schools after the half term.

Chief Officer for Education and Youth, Claire Homard, said: “At the current time, Flintshire schools are being directed to prepare for the reopening of face to face provision for Foundation Phase pupils  on 22 February in line with the Welsh Government decision.”

“The current levels of infection and positivity are being carefully monitored and would inform any future decision to delay opening.”

The locations in Flintshire where new cases have been recorded in the seven days to February 7th.

The heat map below shows cases per 100,000 based on seven-day rolling average (January 28 to February 3) 

(click on each area section on for the latest data – the darker the area the higher the rate)