The town’s health boss has praised the efforts of Swindonians in lowering the case rate after Covid restrictions were eased. 

With the reopening of pubs, non-essential shops, gyms and personal care businesses, people have been able to get out and about and meet friends and family. 

The council’s director of public health Steve Maddern said the latest figures show Swindon is “going in the right direction”.

But Mr Maddern sounded a note of caution over the risk of infection in pub gardens. 

He said: “We’ve seen the lessening of restrictions this week – the reports we are getting back from our Covid marshals is that actually everything feels relatively calm, so although people are utilising the economy and are being able to meet up with family and friends again, nobody seems to be silly around the guidance and the rules which is really encouraging, but I’m very mindful that the rules only changed on Monday. 

“Just a reminder to everyone – enjoy your weekend but please be sensible, the case rate for Swindon is reducing but it’s still high, so we still need to get those numbers down even further.

“We’ve gone over the hurdles of Easter and the lessening of restrictions which we were anxious about. So, we’re not seeing any negative impact, which is really good.”

The borough’s seven-day rolling infection rate was 27.9 cases per 100,000 people yesterday. The case rate remains higher than the south west average of 13.7 cases per 100.000. It is now below the national case rate of 28.7. 

He added: “My predominant concern would be around behaviour and pub gardens when alcohol is involved, because we know if you start drinking, and you’re seeing people you haven’t seen for a while, your inhibitions change.”

The council has a “licensing team” visiting pubs, bars, and restaurants to make sure they are complying with the Covid guidelines. 

Mr Maddern said: “But there’s a responsibility for pubs and restaurants to make sure people are behaving appropriately on their premises. 

“That’s why we’re ensuring that there’s additional workforce out there this weekend to make sure people are enjoying themselves in the spirit of the guidelines.”
Covid marshals have been deployed in the town centre to ensure visitors and businesses are following the rules. 

Mr Maddern said: “There will be an increase in presence, but not necessarily from this weekend, it really started from this week. We have got Covid marshals, and our community policing are also present.

“We know not everybody will comply with the rules, we’ve always focused on the town centre which is why we’ve had specific marshals there.”

The number of symptomatic tests has decreased, with 782 completed across the last week, down from 1,205 the week before. 

Mr Maddern added: “Although we’re seeing symptomatic testing going down, our positivity percentage is remaining fairly static, so we’re currently at 1.8 per cent which for me suggests that the right people are testing, which is encouraging. Although our positive rate is still higher than the south west average at this moment in time, the case rate is going in the right direction, which is good. 

“And we are not seeing a large number of positive results among those using lateral flow tests.”

The case rate in the over-60s was at 8.3 per 100,000 yesterday, and no cases have been reported in the over-75. 

“It is a real testimony to the vaccination programme,” Mr Maddern said.

“The majority of our cases are still in those younger age groups, so very much on the 15 to 24s and then 44s and above. To us, it’s suggesting it’s children and then subsequent adults, possibly parents, but the numbers overall are still incredibly low.”