COVID case rates are now plummeting in Cheshire West and Chester, with the number of new cases per week nearly halved.

Latest available figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that between January 10-16, a total of 3,962 cases were confirmed in the borough, a fall of 3,586 – or 47.5 per cent – on January 3-9.

Covid infection rates are still high, with more than 400 new cases still being confirmed per day, but have fallen from the peak of 1,517 reported on January 4.

The number being reported is significantly higher than the Delta wave from this time last year. That is down to the Omicron variant being more transmissible than previous variants, and fewer testing facilities available 12 months ago.

About 10,000 Covid tests are reported in Cheshire West and Chester every day – a slight fall on the rate since before Christmas. Tests were in short supply over the new year period, with record numbers getting themselves tested on January 4-5, with more than 17,000 tests – or five per cent of the borough's population – being reported on each of those two days.

With figures nationally mirroring the trend, it looks extremely likely the worst of the Omicron wave has now passed in the area, at least in terms of new cases being reported.

The latest available hospital figures showed there were 97 Covid patients being treated at the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust on January 11.

Nationally, the number of Covid patients in hospital is now beginning to decline slowly.

Nearly two-thirds of people in Cheshire West and Chester aged 12+ have now received a booster jab.

A total of 65.4 per cent – or 213,293 people – have had the third vaccine dose.

Walk-in vaccination clinics are available this week at:

  • Vicar's Cross Vaccination Centre, Green Lane, Chester, CH3 5LB. Monday, January 17th, Tuesday, January 18th, Wednesday, January 19th, Thursday, January 20th, Friday, January 21st, Saturday, January 22nd (10am-5:30pm) Sunday, January 23rd (10am-12:30pm) - Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna (including boosters)
  • Former Huntington Primary School, Butterbache Road, Huntington, Chester, CH3 6DF. Wednesday, January 19th, Thursday, January 20th, Friday, January 21st, Saturday, January 22nd, Sunday, January 23rd (9am-6:40pm) - Pfizer and AstraZeneca (including boosters)

Free walk-in Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) are available from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s own mobile pop-up COVID-19 testing units which will be located in Ellesmere Port and Frodsham this week.

As of 17 January the pop-up testing units will be located at:

  • Outside Asda, Mercer Walk, Ellesmere Port CH65 0BE. Opening Monday 17 January to Friday 21 January each day from 9am until 3.30pm
  • Frodsham Leisure Centre, Princeway, Frodsham, WA6 6RX. Opening Monday 17 January to Friday 21 January each day from 9am until 3.30pm

Fixed LFT testing facilities are also located at the Dingle Centre in Winsford and Stanney Oaks Leisure Centre in Ellesmere Port.

Attendance at any of these testing facilities do not require an appointment and all sites offer home testing kits to take away although supplies are limited.