26.3% increase in Bournemouth Coronavirus cases – COVID-19 Update

According to the UK government website, 142.224 people tested positive for Covid 19 in the UK on 10 January.

While the increase of cases continued after the Christmas period, with nearly 12% more the last 7 days, the amount of cases began to decrease at the beginning of the new year.

In the Dorset Council area, there have been reports about an increase of Covid 19 cases by more than half during the week before 4 January.

The UK government website recorded an increase of 26.3% of cases in Bournemouth in the week leading up to 5 January.

Christchurch had a slightly higher increase, with reportedly 31.4% more people testing positive for Covid 19.

Wimborne and Poole saw a smaller increase in cases, with respectively 10.9% and 8.8% more positive test results.

Shaftesbury however improved in numbers, with 3.4% less covid cases reported in the small market town.

If you now test positive for Covid on a Lateral Flow Test without displaying symptoms, you no longer have to take a PCR test for confirmation.

On the 5th of January, the UK Health Security Agency announced a temporary change to the testing regulations and the rule came into place today, on the 11th of January.

People who receive a positive test result from a lateral flow device will still need to self-isolate for a week instantly, but do not have to take an additional confirmatory PCR test.

This rule experiences a ‘revival’ as similar changes were made this time last year.

With a significant increase of people testing positive for Covid 19 then – and now – the probability was and is higher of a positive Lateral Flow Test indeed being positive.

However, there are a couple of exceptions, including people participating in research or surveillance programmes, as well as people eligible for the £500 test and Trace Support Payment.

The new year starts with other changes to Covid 19 related rules.

UK travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated people were altered as well on the 9th of January.

If you qualify as fully-vaccinated, you are now only required to take a Lateral Flow Test or equivalent on Day 2 after their arrival. Arrival day counts as Day 0.

This will save travellers effort and an average post-arrival PCR test cost of £80 pounds per person.