Cheshire's NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, the body responsible for rolling out Covid-19 vaccinations, is 'confident' that the February target for the top priority groups will be met in our area.

Three "incredibly ambitious" targets

Speaking at a Cheshire West Covid-19 Outbreak Board meeting, Cheshire CCG's Clare Watson said: "We have got three targets nationally.

"Although they are incredibly ambitious and we've got a mountain to climb to get there, national deadlines are quite helpful to have as they really focus the mind.

"By the end of January all care home residents and frontline care workers have to have their first vaccine. We are on track with that. We are confident that by January 31 we will meet that target.

"The second national target is February 14 by which time the first four priority cohorts have to be offered their first vaccination."

These groups are as follows:

• Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
• All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
• All those 75 years of age and over
• All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)

Ms Watson added that: "We are going through all these lists, which include a whole raft of other primary care contractors, and we are still confident that we can achieve the target."

"We have then until 19 April to offer the first dose to cohorts five to nine. We are also confident – subject to vaccine supply – that we will meet that target.

She concluded that: "We have had some provisional agreement to have six army vaccinators deployed in Cheshire in the coming weeks."

How many people have had the vaccine?

Knowing that many people are eager to see more specific figures on the progress of the vaccine rollout, Cheshire West's Chief Executive, Andrew Lewis, told the Outbreak Board that over 8,000 local over-80s have now received their first dose.

That equates to nearly 40 per cent of the total for the borough.

According to Ms Watson, 'absolutely accurate information' on the number of people who have been vaccinated in Cheshire will be available 'imminently'.

Lateral flow testing

Mr Lewis also outlined the work currently being carried out in Cheshire West to tackle our infection rate level, explaining that a lateral flow testing service is being expanded throughout the borough.

Frodsham's closest rapid testing site is currently in Ellesmere Port, but the Council are considering introducing a mobile option, through which testing could be offered to frontline public service workers who are continually exposed to people from outside their household.

Moving on from the subject of testing, he added that anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and therefore isolating, is encouraged to contact the Council for support in accessing food or medicines.

The figures

Mr Lewis also warned that the Council does not expect the pressure on our hospitals to ease until at least the end of this month.

However, the good news is that, according to Council Director of Public Health, Ian Ashworth, there has been a slight 'slowing' of the growth in infection rates in the past week.

"That rate of increase is starting to stall, but is still at very high levels," he said.

At the moment, Cheshire West's rolling infection rate sits at 574.2 cases per 100,000 residents.

The proportion of people returning a positive Covid test result is also in decline. Having grown from around 5 per cent in October to approximately 18 per cent earlier this month, the percentage has now fallen slightly to 15.7 per cent.

There are 253 Covid-positive patients currently being treated in the Countess of Chester, with 204 in Warrington and Halton Hospitals.