Yesterday (19th October), 116 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Cheshire West, as the Council vowed to 'turn things around' and bring the borough back into tier 1.

In the week leading up to Sunday October 18th, there were 700 new infections in west Cheshire. However, the borough's hospitals have recorded no new coronavirus deaths since October 14th.

In the week leading up to 17th October, there were 21 new cases in both Helsby and Frodsham, putting the towns' infection rates at 419.66 and 226.03 per 100,000 residents respectively.

In Gowy Rural, there were also 21 new cases, resulting in a rate of 226.51 per 100,000, as compared to 223.76 per 100,000 in Sandstone ward, where 11 infections were recorded.

While the number of infections reported in Frodsham, Gowy Rural and Sandstone wards remained stable or even decreased slightly, in Helsby they more than doubled, following the general upward trend in positive coronavirus test results in Cheshire West.

The situation in the borough as a whole has prompted the Council to urge residents to "re-double [their] work to prevent further spread of this terrible virus, by taking local action."

In a statement published on Friday, Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "Our residents, businesses, our community organisations and local services continue to play their part to save lives and livelihoods.

"We applaud their commitment, resilience and sacrifice in the most challenging of circumstances. We are committed to showcasing these inspiring actions and we will remain positive throughout this crisis.

"Despite our best efforts, the weekly number of positive cases in our borough has quadrupled over the past four weeks.

"There is nothing inevitable about our situation and this trend. If we work together and are determined, we can turn this around.

The Council added that, "With coordinated local action and the continued support of our communities, enhanced by the right powers, and resources," the borough should be able to "reduce and ultimately reverse" the current proliferation of cases.

"We are taking local accountability and playing our part. Our outbreak management plan is being fully implemented.

Over the past few weeks, actions that the Council has taken include: the development of a new community testing service for housebound residents, the consolidation of strong infection control arrangements across all of the borough's care homes and the recruitment of over 300 community champions to help inform local people.

The Council have also made steps to help support west Cheshire's hospitality industry, including waiving the alfresco licence fee for bars, restaurants and cafés until this time next year.

Council leader, Cllr Louise Gittins, concluded: "Through simple steps like washing your hands regularly, covering your face, keeping your distance from other households, and following the new regulations, we can get out of this situation and get back to the things we love.

"We can all play our part to turn this around."

To read the full statement, click here.