Swindon not currently preparing move into Tier 2 but it could be 'a matter of days or weeks'

It comes as Oxford gets ready to move into the middle tier on Saturday, with people banned from meeting socially indoors with people outside their bubble.

Swindon’s coronavirus rate is only narrowly lagging behind Oxford’s. In the seven days to 9am on Thursday morning, Swindon had seen the equivalent of 110.3 new cases per 100,000 people compared to 137.1 new cases per 100,000 in Oxford.

READ MORE: Oxford moved into Tier 2

Currently, Swindon remains in Tier 1 – with restrictions including the rule of six and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

But the prospect of moving up to Tier 2 is clearly playing on the mind of Steve Maddern, public health director for Swindon Borough Council.

He told reporters on Friday morning: “At local level, we are not considering the need to move to a next tier at this particular moment in time. But we do need to be very mindful it could be a matter of days, weeks rather than months.”

Mr Maddern said there would likely be around a week’s “lead-up” before going into the next tier.

READ MORE: Is it safe to go to Oxford this weekend?  

Steve Maddern, director of public health at Swindon Borough Council

The negotiation over whether to move into Tier 2 would involve the government, local politicians and potentially other councils if Swindon were part of a group of areas across the region that simultaneously shifted from Tier 1.

Among the factors considered by officials would be the number and type of outbreaks, the number of cases among over-60s and the situation at the hospital.

Currently, relatively few of those testing positive are over-60, with the bulk of new cases among people aged 40 to 60 (35 per cent) or 18 to 25 (32 per cent).

As of October 27, there were 18 beds at Great Western Hospital occupied by coronavirus patients. In the week to October 25, 19 people were admitted to GWH with coronavirus or diagnosed with the virus while in hospital.

The number of new coronavirus cases in Swindon Source: GOV.UK

Mr Maddern said the council had seen further outbreaks. It was managing 10 outbreaks in workplaces, including 15 cases at the Royal Mail depot in Dorcan. There were 10 school-based outbreaks, including the 144 cases at Wilkes Academy. And there were four “situations” at Swindon care homes.  

“You can see we are very much getting swept up in the second wave. I think it’s very much here,” Mr Maddern said.