Reading data for coronavirus cases, deaths and vaccinations

The latest data shows the number of coronavirus patients in local hospitals has gone down, however, and the number of local people who have had a dose of the vaccine is still surging.

What is Boris Johnson planning?

Today the Prime Minister will tell MPs how his government plans to take England out of the third national lockdown.

It is understood that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell MPs that all pupils in all years can go back to the classroom from March 8, with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed to restart as well.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Cabinet Room, Downing Street, London, hosting the G7 leaders for a virtual meeting to discuss worldwide distribtuion of coronavirus vaccines and preventing future pandemics. Picture date: Friday February 19, 2021. PA Ph

A further easing of restrictions will take place on March 29 when the school Easter holidays begin – with larger groups allowed to gather in parks and gardens.

The “rule of six” will return along with new measures allowing two households totalling more than six people to meet – giving greater flexibility for families and friends.

READ MORE: Madejski Stadium converted to mass covid vaccination centre

Boris Johnson has said the government will be ‘cautious’ about lifting restrictions, with four conditions needing to be met before rules are eased.

According to the BBC, these are:

• The vaccination programme continuing to be rolled-out quickly

• Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment

• Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions

• New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions

So, how do Reading borough’s figures look?

The latest data shows the current weekly coronavirus infection rate per 100,000 population in the borough is 108.2.

This is a modest increase from the figure published on the 20th of February when the borough’s R fell to 106.9.

A pedestrian walks past a sign thanking the NHS in Nottingham City Centre during England's third national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Picture date: Friday February 19, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should r

According to government data, Friday’s figure was the lowest the borough has recorded since October 21, around two weeks before England’s second national lockdown.

And what about hospital admissions?

The number of people being treated for coronavirus at local hospitals is currently 103, according to latest data published on 16th February.

READ MORE: The key dates in plan to ease lockdown and how they might affect Berks

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust — Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley and West Berks Community Hospital in Thatcham — has seen a big drop in the number of covid patients over the past week.

Doctors were treating 146 covid patients on February 9.

Undated handout photo issued by Freuds of Noddy Holder receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. Celebrities have been at the forefront of efforts to encourage as many people as possible to get the jab. Issue date: Saturday February 20, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story

The current figure is the lowest number in local hospitals since December 24, 2020.

Of these patients, the number needing mechanical ventilation to help them breathe has increased marginally recently.

26 people are using the respiration support at Royal Berks Hospitals according to data published on February 16.

READ MORE: Live updates as Boris Johnson gives lockdown update

This is up from the 24 people needing ventilation on February 15 -- the lowest this figure has been since January 13, 2021.

What does death data show?

Reading borough’s rate of weekly COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population is currently 6.13 for the week from January 30 to February 5.

In real terms, this translates to ten deaths in this period.

Dr Jess Harvey prepares the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for injection at the Northgate Health Centre in Bridgnorth. Picture date: Friday February 19, 2021. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

The rate from the previous week was 10.42

This is down from the borough’s third-lockdown peak of 14.71 the week from January 16 to January 22, when 24 deaths were recorded.

How are vaccinations coming along?

379,838 doses had been handed out to residents in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, according to data published February 18.

This is up from 305,464 the week prior.

READ MORE: More asymptomatic testing sites open in West Berkshire

84,425 residents over 80 years old have been given at least one jab, with 7,622 given their second dose.

Now government data shows more localised vaccine figures, meaning we can see how many people in Reading borough, Wokingham borough and West Berkshire have had injections.

This data shows 98,641 people have had at least one dose of the vaccine in these areas.