Covid cases rising in Borehamwood and Bushey

Figures published by the government show three wards out of four in the town – Cowley Hill, Hillside, and Brookmeadow experienced an uptake in cases in early to mid-December.

The rise is in line with the rest of Hertfordshire which has recorded at least 6,000 cases in December, plunging the whole of the county into the toughest Tier 3 restrictions.

What’s the situation like in Borehamwood at the moment?

Unlike in other places in Hertfordshire like Bushey and Watford, lockdown did work in Borehamwood, bringing the number of weekly cases in the town’s wards’ down to single digits.

However, the virus has re-emerged in the last week or so, particularly in the Cowley Hill and Hillside areas of the town.

In the seven days to December 13, there were 38 cases in Cowley Hill (up from seven the previous week), 34 in Hillside (up from 20) and 21 in Brookmeadow (up from 8).

The lowest number of cases is in Kenilworth ward (11 cases).

Where colours are darker is where there are more cases

And neighbouring areas?

Hertsmere’s soaring Covid infection rate – currently at 369.8 cases per 100,000 people which is officially the highest it has ever been - is being led by a substantial outbreak in the Bushey area.

There have been dozens of cases in the town over the last couple of weeks.

In the week to December 13, there were 63 cases in Bushey Central (up 29), 61 in Bushey Heath (up 32) and 33 in Bushey North (up 16).

Cases are also on the rise in Elstree, as well as in Barnet, Harrow, Watford, and St Albans.

The map does not take into account at least 203 cases found in Hertsmere since December 14.

What has caused the spike in cases?

By the director of public health in Hertfordshire’s own admission, the rise in cases in London and the south east of England has come “faster than anyone could have possibly imagined”.

In a Facebook Live with the mayor of Watford on Friday, Jim McManus said a new and seemingly more contagious strain of Covid was “busy sweeping through the population” – appearing to suggest this may have caused the rapid spike in Herts - but he reassured viewers the new strain still responds to the tests and the vaccine.

Hertsmere’s rise in cases has mainly involved youngsters – those aged 10-19 – but there has also been a notable rise in people aged in their 40s testing positive.

Fortunately, cases remain lowest in those aged over 80 but they are on the rise.

How busy are the hospitals?

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford General Hospital, is understood to be currently looking after more Covid patients at one time than ever before.

Government data shows there were 128 Covid patients being cared for by the trust as of December 16 – Mr McManus suggested in the Facebook Live this has since risen to 149.

This overtakes the 146 Covid patients at the trust on April 19.

As of December 16, just six of the 128 Covid patients were on ventilation – which is down from 25 when Watford General declared a critical incident on April 4 after its oxygen system began reaching maximum capacity.

The Royal Free hospital trust, which runs three sites including Barnet General, had 109 Covid patients on December 16.

Mr McManus said Watford General is currently struggling due to staff shortages – either staff are off sick or self-isolating.

He said in his interview with the mayor that the situation in hospitals at the moment is “worse than the first wave” and that the NHS is facing "extreme pressures".

Are people with Covid dying in our area?

Although survival rates of Covid patients, particularly those going into hospital, is improving all the time, people testing positive for Covid are still passing away.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust has recorded 19 Covid deaths in December, which followed 46 in November.

In Hertsmere, according to government data, there have been 164 residents who died within 28 days of a positive Covid test since the pandemic began, including five in December and 14 in November.

What are residents being asked to do?

Hertsmere and Hertfordshire is officially going through its worst period of Covid – because testing was not widely available in the spring – and public health officials are stressing of the importance of sticking to social distancing rules, wearing masks, and washing hands.

Mr McManus says residents should be restricting travel and social contact and treating people they come close to as if they were infected.

Credit: PA

Hertfordshire County Council leader David Williams said this week: “We must all stay disciplined and stick to the guidance and rules if we are to improve the situation in our county.

“It is vital that we all now redouble these efforts, particularly as we all plan for how we will follow the guidance over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Ultimately, we must all keep playing our part to help reduce the number of cases in the county and take the key steps towards resuming our normal lives.”