HALTON Borough Council has warned residents not to get complacent, despite the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the borough remaining low.

According to data issued by the council, there were seven positive cases of Covid-19 in Halton in the seven days up to August 11, with no deaths reported.

In an attempt to provide residents with a ‘concise and accurate’ picture of the current Covid-19 position across the borough, it will be issuing a weekly summary of the data it receives from Public Health England.

But despite acknowledging that at present, it can be confusing and difficult for residents to understand what the true position is, the council has urged residents not to take risks and to stick to guidance in place to keep people safe.

Eileen O’Meara, Halton’s director of public health, said: “There is an awful lot of information being reported on, sometimes giving conflicting messages about the current situation in Halton.

“We understand how confusing this must be to those residents who just want to understand what the current risks are.

“The data we receive from Public Health England is based on confirmed positive tests, so it really is the most accurate source of information we have.

“We are looking at these figures in great detail every day to see if there are trends or particular areas of concern.

“It is true that we have seen a small increase in the number of positive cases, but this is to be expected as we all get back to doing more of the things we used to do before lockdown restrictions. 

“At present, the number of cases in Halton remains considerably lower than other places in north west that have been subject to local lockdowns.

“This does not mean we can become complacent, indeed it is more important than ever, as lockdown measures are eased further this weekend that we all continue to wash our hands regularly, keep two metres apart where possible and wear a face covering where it is required.

“These remain the very best methods of controlling the spread of the virus and protecting ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of the community.”

The council will be issuing a summary of the data each week via its halton.gov.uk website, @HaltonBC Twitter page and Halton Borough Council Facebook page.