This Newsletter has been produced by the Petersfield COVID-19 Network. It is intended to help and inform Petersfield residents, especially those who are unable to leave their homes because of Government restrictions.
If you know someone who would like to receive the paper version of this newsletter, please ask them to contact Romsey Mill via phone or via post: Romsey Mill Centre, Hemingford Road, Cambridge CB1 3BZ (you do not need a stamp if you add “FREEPOST CB1067”) or call 07933 671101.
Romsey Mill can also offer assistance by putting you in contact with volunteers, who can help collecting shopping and medication.
If you have information which would be of benefit to other residents in Petersfield please contact Romsey Mill with details and we will consider using it in future newsletters.
For all residents experiencing other Covid related issues (e.g. needing help while they isolate, or experiencing financial hardship support) speak to a member of the customer services team at Cambridge City Council. Telephone 01223 458780 or contact Simon.Aslett@cambridge.gov.uk or complete an online help request form here https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/coronavirus
Latest infection statistics in Cambridge
Between 19 May 2021 and 25 May 2021, 7 people had a confirmed positive test result in Cambridge. There were fewer than 3 cases in Petersfield from 15 to 21 May. In Cambridge 4 deaths were recorded within 28 days of a positive test. Between the 15 and 21 May, the number of hospital admissions (CUH) for Covid-19 was 1.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are currently given in 2 doses, at least 21 days apart. 65,330 people had been given a first dose by the end of 25 May and 38,287 people had been given a second dose in the same time period in Cambridge.
The percentages vaccinated in Cambridge are low compared with national numbers. In the UK, 72.9% of adults have received the first dose and 44.8% the second dose.
Vaccine Effectiveness
Public Health England have estimated that at least 10,400 deaths have been averted as a result of the COVID-19 vaccination programme up to the end of March 2021. There is increasing evidence that both vaccines in use in England prevent infection and transmission. These findings provide further evidence that the COVID-19 vaccination programme is already having a significant impact on severe COVID-19 disease in England beyond the effect of the national lockdown. Furthermore, the true value of these vaccines may be in terms of future deaths we might now avoid if there is a resurgence of covid-19 in the UK in the future.
Mill Road Bridge
The trial closure of Mill Road bridge to all traffic except buses, cyclists and pedestrians will continue into the summer.
In order to promote cycling and walking during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lasting legacy of greener, safer transport, the bridge has been closed to private motor vehicle traffic since June 2020. Red and white ‘build outs’ have also been in place along Mill Road to help people social distance when out and about.
A consultation on the trial closure of the bridge ran from June through to December last year which received over 3,500 responses. The survey asked respondents whether they were in favour or against the bridge closure, what they would like to happen next and for their thoughts about the ‘build outs’.
A review of the survey detected a large number of duplicate entries which raised concerns that there had been attempts to skew the feedback. The extra work caused by these irregularities means that the project could no longer be reviewed in March. The project will now be reviewed by the Highways and Transport Committee in June.
Since then there has been a change of political control on Cambridgeshire County Council. In May the Joint Administration published the agreement reached between the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Groups, who now control the Council. In it they agreed to make sustainability their main priority and to bring forward the target of reducing net carbon emissions to zero from 2050 to 2030. They say ‘All spending and investment decisions will be made in the context of meeting the Net Zero strategy, and social and environmental criteria will be given equal weight to financial criteria in all contracting.’
The decision on the future of Mill Road Bridge will be taken in this context.