This week (to 16 April) there have been a further 19 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Somerset. This is a significant fall in cases. The vaccination programme is clearly having an impact. For a couple of weeks we have seen new cases reduced to the level they were last September. The table below illustrates the point. It tracks the weekly number of infections in recent weeks:

• 19 to 16 April
• 103 to 7 April
• 244 to 1 April
• 219 to 24 March
• 216 to 17 March
• 227 to 10 March
• 272 to 3 March
• 436 to 24 February
• 444 to 18 February

Before we go any further however, our usual health warning about the figures.  Unlike NHS data these numbers include care homes and incidences of COVID 19 “at home”. The data is prepared to 16 April for cases (although different dates are used for some of the other figures – for instance deaths are reported to 2 April). The reason for this delay is to keep the numbers accurate – or should we say as accurate as possible. The daily totals published by the NHS are subject to constant revision, as not unreasonably, the data is constantly being updated to improve accuracy. It is also worth noting that the SCC area does not include North Somerset (so Weston hospital) or BANES (So the RUH in Bath) both of which are separate administrative areas.

Figures for deaths from COVID 19 in Somerset have now been updated for the period to 2 April. there have been 4 deaths in the fortnight since 19 March when figures were last reported. 3 in the week to 26 March and 1 in the week to 2 April.

The R number for the South West this week looks slightly odd. To be quoting a range of 0.7 to 1 feels out of kilter with the dramatic fall in new case numbers. It remains a fact that the South West is still showing as low an R number range as anywhere else in the country.

The vaccination programme in Somerset continues to gather pace. To date 90% or more of all age groups over 50, the most vulnerable have been vaccinated at least once. The penetration of the population in terms of vaccinations has now slowed. By which we mean relatively few unvaccinated people have received the first jab. Instead the focus has been very much on giving second vaccinations. However only 3,500 people were vaccinated for the first time last week in the under 50 category.

However, as always, we have attached the full data set here so you can draw your own conclusions: